President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is working to arrange a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting aims to explore a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump emphasized that the United States will support European security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression once the current war concludes.

The announcement followed a meeting at the White House with Zelenskyy and several European leaders. After the discussions, leaders expressed cautious optimism about the potential for peace talks. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the significance of the U.S. commitment to security guarantees for Ukraine, stating, "The most important outcome of the meeting was the U.S. commitment to work with us on providing security guarantees."

Trump confirmed that he had spoken with Putin during the meeting and is in the process of determining a location for the proposed talks between Putin and Zelenskyy. He stated, "I called President Putin and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a trilateral meeting, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself."

The discussions come amid concerns that Trump may be urging Ukraine to make concessions that could embolden Russia. Zelenskyy indicated that he prefers to meet with Putin without preconditions, stating, "If Russia does not demonstrate a will to meet, then we will ask the United States to act accordingly."

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s efforts, noting that the U.S. would contribute to Ukraine’s security following a peace agreement. He mentioned that discussions about security guarantees, similar to NATO's Article 5, would take place in the coming days. However, he clarified that the possibility of U.S. troops in Ukraine was not on the table.

Zelenskyy expressed the importance of U.S. involvement in security guarantees, saying, "It is important that the United States make a clear signal, namely that they will be among the countries that will help to coordinate and also will participate in security guarantees for Ukraine."

The meeting marked a notable shift from previous interactions between Trump and Zelenskyy, which had been tense. During the meeting, Zelenskyy presented a letter from his wife to Trump’s wife, Melania, and both leaders engaged in a constructive dialogue about the situation in Ukraine.

European leaders, including Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasized the need for a ceasefire and a well-prepared meeting between the two presidents. Merz stated, "It’s completely clear that the whole of Europe should participate. This is not just about the territory of Ukraine; it’s about the political order of Europe."

As the situation develops, Zelenskyy reiterated the necessity of a ceasefire before any meeting with Putin, while also acknowledging the complexities involved in the negotiations. The international community remains watchful as Trump seeks to facilitate a resolution to the conflict that has persisted for nearly four years.