Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting in Washington, shortly after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska. This meeting saw the Ukrainian President in a suit, contrasting with his military attire from a previous meeting, which Trump had criticized. The two leaders reached agreements on numerous critical matters.
Zelenskyy, seated next to Trump in the Oval Office, thanked the American president for his ‘personal efforts’ to stop the war in Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meeting, Trump declared his intention to ask Putin for trilateral talks, failing which the war would continue. The meeting covered several issues; here are five key highlights.
**Security Guarantees**
The most significant aspect of the meeting was Zelenskyy’s demand for security guarantees. Responding to a journalist’s question on what security guarantees were required for an agreement, Zelenskyy said his country needed ‘everything.’ He emphasized that Ukraine needed a robust military, including weapons, personnel, training, and intelligence.
**Trilateral Talks Agreed Upon**
Trump stated he would call Putin after the meeting, urging him to participate in trilateral discussions. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also supported these talks, which could lead to a meeting between the three leaders in the near future.
**Appreciation of Zelenskyy’s Dress**
Zelenskyy arrived at the Oval Office in a suit this time, which Trump commended.
**The Most Challenging Conflict**
During the meeting, Trump, addressing media questions, stated that he had ended six wars but this was the most challenging. He expressed optimism about stopping this war too.
**Biden’s Responsibility – Trump**
Trump attributed responsibility for the war to former President Joe Biden. Trump stated that he believed it would be easier to conclude, remarking on the hardships the war creates for Ukraine. He concluded, “This is not my war, this is Joe Biden’s war. He has a big hand in this event, and we want to end it.”