President Donald Trump is meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House on Monday. The discussions aim to explore potential resolutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine. This meeting follows Trump's recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which did not result in a ceasefire.

Military analyst Steve Ganyard noted that since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, it has gained control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Reports indicate that Putin is demanding the remainder of the Donetsk region in exchange for ceasing military operations. This area, comparable in size to Delaware, is vital for Ukraine's agriculture and industrial sectors.

European leaders began arriving at the White House shortly after noon. Among them were NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They were welcomed by Monica Crowley, the chief of protocol, as they walked along a red carpet into the White House.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump addressed critics of his approach to the Ukraine conflict, asserting, "I'm only here to stop it, not to prosecute it any further." He claimed that the war would not have occurred if he had been in office and criticized those who have previously handled similar conflicts.

As the meeting approached, Russian airstrikes continued to target Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv. Ukrainian officials reported that a drone attack in Kharkiv resulted in the deaths of a toddler and a teenager, among others. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attacks, stating, "Despite all of the diplomacy and peace efforts, Russia continues to kill civilians."

Zelenskyy expressed that Russia can only be compelled to peace through strength, stating, "President Trump has that strength." He emphasized the seriousness of the meeting, which includes discussions on the battlefield situation and diplomatic efforts.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Trump for his commitment to peace in Ukraine and indicated that the Senate is prepared to provide economic leverage to support negotiations with Russia. Thune highlighted ongoing bipartisan efforts in Congress to impose new sanctions on the Kremlin.

The meeting is particularly significant as it follows a chaotic previous encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy in February, which ended abruptly amid tensions.

Today's schedule includes a bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at 1:15 p.m., followed by a larger meeting with European leaders at 3 p.m. Reporters will have limited access to both meetings, and no press conference is planned afterward.