A series of major meetings is taking place in Washington, D.C. — first between Trump and Zelensky, then involving top European leaders.
Analysts see it as the most consequential summit since the war buildup in 2021, even bigger than Istanbul 2022 talks.
The stakes: whether there’s a path to ending the war.
Trump’s Position
Trump recently stated Zelensky could end the war “almost immediately” if he accepts certain realities:
No NATO membership for Ukraine.
No reversal of Crimea’s annexation.
Trump’s approach is declarative and ultimatum-driven, not a mutual exploration.
He has contradicted himself publicly: sometimes saying it’s not up to him to make a deal, other times saying he will broker one.
Bottom line: Trump wants a deal, but his terms lean toward territorial concessions (“land swaps”) and security guarantees favorable to Russia.
Zelensky’s Position
Before leaving Europe, Zelensky held a press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen:
No land concessions — Ukraine’s constitution forbids it.
Ceasefire must come first before any negotiations.
Warned against “fake” security guarantees like in 1994 Budapest Memorandum, when Ukraine gave up nukes in exchange for unenforceable promises.
Rejected any deal resembling Crimea 2014, which he sees as a springboard for Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Zelensky continues to stress firm red lines, despite Trump mocking him for claiming the constitution prevents flexibility.
Background: Trump–Zelensky Relations
Their February 2025 Oval Office meeting started as a photo-op but turned confrontational:
Trump told Zelensky Ukraine was in a “bad position” and had no leverage.
Zelensky pushed back, refusing to concede or accept Trump’s framing.
Afterward, Zelensky traveled to Europe, was warmly welcomed by leaders like Keir Starmer, and secured European backing — showing he didn’t cave to Trump.
Despite being publicly rebuffed, Trump didn’t abandon the issue, which is why today’s meeting matters.
Today’s Meeting Structure
Around 12 PM: Trump meets some European leaders for photos.
1 PM: Trump meets privately with Zelensky.
2 PM: Expanded meeting with Zelensky + European heavyweights:
Ursula von der Leyen (EU Commission)
Olaf Scholz (Germany)
Keir Starmer (UK)
Emmanuel Macron (France)
Giorgia Meloni (Italy)
Jens Stoltenberg (NATO)
Europe is “bringing out all the heavy artillery” — signaling its unified support for Ukraine.
Core Conflict
Trump’s position: End the war via concessions (no NATO, land swaps, security guarantees).
Zelensky’s position: No territorial compromise, ceasefire before talks, binding guarantees not fake promises.
Russia’s position: Willing to negotiate without a ceasefire, holding firm on keeping occupied territory.
This leaves a huge gap:
Either one side must completely yield, or negotiations stall.
Observers doubt the gap is bridgeable.
Key Underlying Issue
The clash boils down to power, not just words:
What each side can coerce or defend in reality.
Security guarantees, land control, and military leverage matter more than political statements.
✅ Takeaway:
The D.C. summit is high-stakes and historic, with Trump pressing for a quick deal on terms unfavorable to Ukraine, while Zelensky reaffirms uncompromising red lines. The gulf between their positions (land concessions vs. territorial integrity) seems almost impossible to close, but today’s talks may determine whether negotiations move forward or collapse.
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Daniel Davis Deep Dive