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WASHINGTON − The last time Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to the White House, his meeting with President Donald Trump went so poorly that the Ukrainian leader was kicked out.
Trump mocked his clothes and Vice President JD Vance called him “disrespectful” in a February Oval Office meeting that turned into a televised brawl.
Zelenskyy is now on better terms with Trump. But when he comes to the White House to discuss a potential peace deal with Russia, he'll face a renewed hard line from Trump after the president's Aug. 15 meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Vance will take part in the August 18 Zelenskyy talks as well, a White House official told USA TODAY.
In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump put the onus on Zelenskyy to end Russia's assault on his country and ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine. He also said the illegally annexed territory of Crimea would stay with Russia, returning to a position he staked out months ago.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight, Trump said in the Aug. 17 post. "...and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"
The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to meet with Trump and his advisers in the Oval Office alone before an expanded meeting with European leaders.
Zelenskyy said in an X post as he arrived in Washington that a peace deal must be enduring. "Not like it was years ago, when Ukraine was forced to give up Crimea and part of our East—part of Donbas—and Putin simply used it as a springboard for a new attack."
"I am confident that we will defend Ukraine, effectively guarantee security, and that our people will always be grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and every partner and ally for their support and invaluable assistance. Russia must end this war, which it itself started," he said.
Vance to join Trump for Zelenskyy meeting in Oval Office
Vice President Vance is set to attend the Aug. 18 Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, as well as a subsequent meeting with European leaders in the East Room, a source familiar with the vice president’s plans said.
Vance was central in turning a February Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy into a clash when the vice president told Zelenskyy he was being “disrespectful” and remarked that Zelenskyy had not once thanked Trump for U.S. support.
Monday’s meeting, scheduled to begin at 1:15 p.m. ET, will mark the first time Zelenskyy has returned to the Oval Office since the memorable confrontation.
--Joey Garrison
British prime minister lands in at Joint Base Andrews for Trump Ukraine summit
Prime Minisher Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom has landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy talks in Washington.
Starmer will be joined at the White House by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
The leaders try to move President Trump away from Vladimir Putin's conditions for a Ukraine peace deal and increase security guarantees for Kyiv in a future agreement.
Trump opposes mail-in ballots, says Putin agrees
Trump said he would sign an executive order to abolish mail-in voting, a move he has said Russia’s President Vladimir Putin supported.
Trump has long railed against mail-in voting, an option which has favored Democrats in recent elections, as vulnerable to fraud. But election experts, including those in Trump’s previous administration, have said mail-in voting is accurate.
“THE MAIL-IN BALLOT HOAX, USING VOTING MACHINES THAT ARE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER, MUST END, NOW!!!” Trump said on social media Aug. 18.
The post came after Trump told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Aug. 15 that Putin, “smart guy, said you can’t have an honest election with mail-in voting.”
--Bart Jansen
What time does Trump meet with Zelenskyy?
Trump and his team are scheduled to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his team initially, before a later meeting with a group of European leaders who assembled discuss how to deal with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
The European leaders are set to arrive at the White House at noon, an hour before Zelenskyy’s arrival. Trump and Zelenskyy will meet in the Oval Office at 1:15 p.m.
Trump will then greet a group of European leaders in the State Dining Room at 2:15 p.m. The group is expected to pose for a picture at 2:30 p.m. Trump will meet with all the European leaders at 3 p.m. in the East Room. -Bart Jansen
Will Zelenskyy show up at the White House in a suit?
For the duration of the war, Ukraine's leader has chosen to wear a simple green T-shirt that's become for many a symbol of his defiance. He's largely stuck to that sartorial format in diplomatic corridors the world over.
"Why don't you wear a suit? Do you own a suit? A lot of Americans have a problem with you not respecting the dignity of the office."
That was one of the questions posed to Volodomyr Zelenskyy by a combative reporter the last time he was in the White House, in February. The visit descended into a heated exchange involving Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.
So: A suit this time? -Kim Hjelmgaard
Zelenskyy: Putin seeks to 'humiliate diplomatic efforts'
President Donald Trump's meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that could help shape the direction of Russia's war is still hours away.
Ahead of that, Zelenskyy said that Russia's President Vladimir Putin was trying to "humiliate diplomatic efforts" after Moscow overnight launched dozens of drones and fired four missiles at Ukraine, killing at least 10 people.
"The Russian war machine continues to destroy lives despite everything," Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post. "Putin will commit demonstrative killings to maintain pressure on Ukraine and Europe." - Kim Hjelmgaard
European leaders rush to Washington for emergency summit
Zelenskyy came to Washington alone last time he was in the U.S. capital. This time he's bringing loads of backup.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte are also flying in.
They'll arrive at the White House before Zelenskyy and wait in the wings until his meeting with Trump is finished,
The show of force from European leaders comes on the heels of a summit Trump held for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska that neither they nor Zelenskyy were invited to participate in.
Trump rolled out the red carpet for Putin and touted the strength of their relationship after the Aug. 15 meeting.
He said “many points” were agreed on in the closed-door talks and advised Zelenskyy: “Make a deal.” - Francesca Chambers
Talks could last six hours or more, Rubio says
Shortly after his Putin summit Trump said he’d host Zelenskyy at the White House on Aug. 18. Then the gathering quickly swelled to include major European leaders.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the “Sunday Morning Futures” program on Fox News that Trump told Zelenskyy he could bring other heads of state with him.
“I also think the Europeans are very helpful being in the room sometimes and sort of giving ideas about what accommodations can be made and what flexibility the Ukrainian side could have,” Rubio said.
In all, Rubio said he expected six to seven hours of discussion, possibly more. - Francesca Chambers
United States considers security guarantees for Ukraine
A top administration official said over the weekend that the United States could join Europe in committing to protect Ukraine if it is attacked again as part of a deal to end the war.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff said Russia agreed to security guarantees that mimic the protections Ukraine would receive if it were allowed to join NATO.
“We got to an agreement that the United States and other European nations could effectively offer Article 5-like language to cover a security guarantee,” Witkoff said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Zelenskyy called it a “historic decision that the United States is ready to take part in security guarantees for Ukraine” and said they “must be developed with Europe’s participation.”
Russia has reneged on written agreements with Ukraine in the past, and that is why the country is seeking security commitments from America and its allies.
Rubio said on Fox News that such a promise “would be a huge concession” by Trump and he was still weighing his options.
“It would be a very big move by the President if he were to offer a U.S. commitment to a security guarantee,” Rubio said. “If he does it, it tells you how badly he wants peace.”
Trump adviser says 'land swap' a fundamental issue
In addition to security guarantees, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said that Russia agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine that mimic the protections the country would receive if it were allowed to join NATO.
Putin also said Russia would pass legislation stating it will not go after additional territory in Ukraine or violate any European country’s sovereignty once a peace deal is codified.
The major outstanding issue is “some sort of land swap, which is obviously ultimately in the control of the Ukrainians,” the Trump envoy said.
Witkoff said the concession that Zelenskyy has steadfastly rejected would be on the agenda.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Zelenskyy give up land to Putin? Live updates on White House showdown
Reporting by Francesca Chambers, Bart Jansen and Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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