WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing for a perilous visit to Washington on Monday (tomorrow), where he might face pressure from US President Donald Trump to agree to a swift peace deal to end Russia’s war, a reversal of the long-held Western strategy of seeking a ceasefire first.
Before the Alaska summit, Trump had said he would not be happy unless a ceasefire was agreed on. But afterwards he said that after Monday’s talks with Zelensky, “if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin”.
Trump invited Zelensky to Washington after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The meeting did not produce the expected ceasefire, rather Trump said he wanted a rapid, full-fledged peace deal, instead of truce, putting the onus on Kyiv.
“Russia is a very big power, and they’re not,” Trump said, bluntly framing his expectation that Ukraine should make a deal.
After phone conversation, both leaders are expected to meet in Washington tomorrow to discuss details
The talks will place Ukranian president in a precarious position as he returns to Washington for the first time since a February Oval Office meeting with Trump descended into acrimony.
Trump’s push for a peace agreement before a truce defies months of diplomacy by Ukraine and its European allies, who have insisted that a ceasefire must be the first step.
“It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Security guarantees
As Kyiv braces for the diplomatic pressure, European allies said a key part of the talks involves new, robust security guarantees for Ukraine to prevent future Russian aggression.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the most interesting development from the Trump-Putin summit concerned NATO-style security proposals.
“The starting point of the proposal is the definition of a collective security clause that would allow Ukraine to benefit from the support of all its partners, including the US, ready to take action in case it is attacked again,” she said.
Two sources familiar with the matter said European leaders and Trump discussed potential guarantees for Ukraine similar to the Nato alliance’s mutual support pledge, which
states that an attack on one is an attack on all.
Trump calls Zelensky
In a phone call, Trump briefed Zelensky on his talks with Putin.
A source familiar with the conversation said Trump told the Ukrainian leader that Putin had offered to freeze most front lines if Kyiv’s forces fully withdrew from the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
But Zelensky rejected the demand. On the other hand, “the impression is he wants a fast deal at any price,” the source said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said an end to the war was closer thanks to Trump, but added, “until (Putin) stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions.”
A joint statement from European leaders said “Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees” and that no limits should be placed on its right to seek NATO membership.
Some European commentators were more critical.
“Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing. As feared: no ceasefire, no peace,” Wolfgang Ischinger, former German ambassador to Washington, posted on the social media site X.
“A clear 1-0 for Putin.” As the summit concluded, Trump told Putin, “We’ll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon.”
Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025
