Washington, Aug 19 (HS): U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday engaged in high-level discussions at the White House alongside several European leaders. The meeting is being viewed as a crucial step toward the potential end of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Prior to the formal talks, Trump and Zelensky held a joint press conference in the Oval Office. Trump stated that his recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin had seen “substantial progress.” He hinted that if conditions remained favorable, a trilateral meeting might take place as early as today, creating what he described as a “credible chance” to bring the conflict to an end.
When asked by journalists whether the United States was scaling back aid to Ukraine, Trump responded, “If all goes well, we can hold a trilateral meeting, and in that scenario, there is a fair opportunity to end the war.” He clarified that U.S. support for Ukraine had not been withdrawn, adding: “Lives are being lost, and we want to stop this.”
Zelensky Thanks First Lady
Expressing gratitude toward Trump for his efforts to halt the war, Zelensky also thanked former First Lady Melania Trump for a letter she had addressed to Putin, emphasizing that it was time to safeguard children and future generations.
Elections Possible After Peace Restored – Zelensky
On the sensitive issue of holding elections amid the war, Zelensky remarked that such a decision would depend entirely on the security situation. Responding to a query on whether Ukraine might concede territory to Russia, he firmly underscored that Ukraine’s goal remained the cessation of hostilities and finding a diplomatic solution, pointing instead to Moscow’s continued aggression.
U.S. Role in Ukraine’s Security
On the matter of deploying American peacekeepers, Trump suggested that the United States, together with Europe, would ensure Ukraine’s long-term security. “When it comes to security, there will be significant assistance… Europe is the first line of defense, but we will also be involved,” he asserted. Trump stopped short of ruling out the deployment of U.S. peacekeepers, remarking: “We will provide them with very strong protection.”
He further claimed credit for having previously “brought six wars to an end,” while admitting that he had expected the current conflict to be comparatively easier, only to find it “significantly more difficult.”
Europe’s Top Leaders Join the Dialogue
Present at the White House talks were NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Their participation underlined the broad international stakes and consensus in seeking an end to the conflict.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
