Consider This from NPR Trump and Zelenskyy meet again
Aug 18, 2025
12:37
In the last few days, President Trump has met separately with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, in an attempt to break the deadlock and end the war.
Today’s meeting at the White House between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed to go much better than last time, when Zelenskyy left early after a heated argument in the Oval Office. In fact, Zelenskyy hailed today’s meeting as “the best one” yet.
Even so, the next steps to ending the war are unclear. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy still haven’t met face-to-face to negotiate, and it’s not certain whether they will be able to find common ground.
NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben gives an update on the day’s events, and former national security adviser Susan Rice gives her perspective on the likelihood of a deal.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Megan Lim and Mia Venkat.
It was edited by Christopher Intagliata, Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill and Nadia Lancy.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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Today’s meeting at the White House between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed to go much better than last time, when Zelenskyy left early after a heated argument in the Oval Office. In fact, Zelenskyy hailed today’s meeting as “the best one” yet.
Even so, the next steps to ending the war are unclear. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy still haven’t met face-to-face to negotiate, and it’s not certain whether they will be able to find common ground.
NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben gives an update on the day’s events, and former national security adviser Susan Rice gives her perspective on the likelihood of a deal.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Megan Lim and Mia Venkat.
It was edited by Christopher Intagliata, Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill and Nadia Lancy.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy