Trump Hails White House Peace Talks, Moves Toward Ukraine–Russia Dialogue
Washington, D.C., August 19, 2025 — U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced what he described as a “strong first step” toward peace in Ukraine after hosting an extraordinary summit with European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.
The gathering, which later continued inside the Oval Office, brought together key figures from across Europe: French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Talks centered on a new system of security guarantees for Ukraine, to be overseen by the United States in coordination with European nations. Trump said the discussions reflected a shared determination to stabilize the region and open the door to negotiations. “There is genuine happiness at the possibility of peace,” he remarked.
Following the summit, Trump personally reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He confirmed that arrangements are being made for a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, with plans for a three-way session involving Trump himself once the bilateral talks are complete.
To drive the initiative forward, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been assigned to work with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Although significant challenges remain, the White House stressed that this week’s summit demonstrated rare international alignment on Ukraine’s future, offering fresh momentum toward ending a war that has stretched into its fourth year.
