Zelenskiy: U.S. Security Pledge is “a Major Step Forward”
U.S. President Donald Trump has promised Zelenskiy to support Ukraine’s security in any eventual peace settlement with Russia, though the scope of that assistance is not yet clear, Reuters reports.
The pledge came during a high-level summit at the White House where Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a group of European leaders, following Trump’s recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
«When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help,» Trump told reporters, adding that Europe would be deeply involved. Zelenskiy called the assurances «a major step forward,» saying they would be formalised on paper within ten days. He also confirmed Ukraine’s intent to purchase around $90 bn worth of American arms.
Warmer Atmosphere After Frosty February
The meeting marked a sharp contrast with February’s fractious Oval Office encounter, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly criticised Zelenskiy. This time, the tone was friendlier, with Trump praising the Ukrainian leader’s appearance and offering gestures of warmth.
European leaders joined the talks in Washington to demonstrate unity with Kyiv and to push for firm security guarantees. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that any guarantees should cover the security of the entire European continent, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed a possible Putin-Zelenskiy meeting in Hungary within two weeks.
Ceasefire or Comprehensive Deal?
Russia complicated matters by rejecting the deployment of NATO troops to secure any settlement. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Trump and Putin had spoken of raising the level of negotiators, though the Kremlin has not confirmed a three-way summit.
European leaders pressed Trump to insist on a ceasefire before substantive talks could advance. Macron and Merz said a halt to fighting should be a precondition, but Trump shifted towards Moscow’s stance that any settlement should be comprehensive, allowing discussions to continue while hostilities remain.
«I wish they could stop, I’d like them to stop,» Trump said, «but strategically that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other.»
Pressure on Zelenskiy
Trump has been pushing for a swift end to the war, the deadliest in Europe in eight decades. Critics fear he may lean towards Moscow’s terms, particularly after signalling that Ukraine should abandon its goals of reclaiming Crimea and joining NATO.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Ukraine’s membership was not on the table, but guarantees akin to Article 5 collective defence could be considered instead.
Zelenskiy has already rejected Russia’s latest proposals, which included handing over the remaining part of Donetsk still under Ukrainian control. Any concession of territory, Kyiv insists, would require a national referendum.
Today, important negotiations took place in Washington. We discussed many issues with President Trump. It was a long and detailed conversation, including discussions about the situation on the battlefield and our steps to bring peace closer. There were also several meetings in a… pic.twitter.com/YqkdRlyKCI
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025
The war, now in its fourth year, has claimed or injured more than a million people on both sides and devastated Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities.
