Trump wraps up talks with Zelensky and European leaders: Live Updates

Date: August 18, 2025

The visit on Monday comes after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Full and updated information can be seen here.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky and several Western European leaders have arrived in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump.

Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, their first face-to-face talks since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Both leaders voiced cautious optimism that the discussions could help move towards a resolution of the hostilities between Moscow and Kiev.

Zelensky announced in a post on X on Saturday that he would be traveling to the US capital on Monday, with Trump confirming the meeting on his Truth Social platform later in the day.

On Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media post that she and several Western European leaders would be joining Zelensky at his request to meet with Trump.

Meanwhile, several US officials have claimed that considerable progress has been made in reaching a compromise peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

18 August 2025
22:05 GMT
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for 40 minutes.
Ushakov said Trump briefed Putin on the talks and that both leaders expressed support for direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.
21:15 GMT
The meeting between Trump and the European leaders has ended, according to media reports. Sources in the Ukrainian delegation at the White House have told the BBC that Trump and Zelensky are still in the building for more talks, “possibly in a different format.” The sources also said that Zelensky’s previously planned interview with Fox News has been cancelled.
21:02 GMT
Trump has interrupted his talks with Zelensky and European officials at the White House to hold a phone call with Putin, according to BILD. The talks are reportedly expected to resume afterwards. Trump had earlier said he would speak with his Russian counterpart after Monday’s meetings.
20:47 GMT
Asked during the meeting about his threat of severe consequences for Russia if it rejects a ceasefire, Trump replied that “we don’t need a ceasefire,” adding that “every war that I ended has [had] a lasting peace.”
20:18 GMT
The White House has posted a black-and-white photo of Trump and Zelensky with the caption ‘Pursuing Peace’.
19:35 GMT
Public remarks from Trump and European leaders have concluded. Trump said they would continue talks in the East Room before moving back to the Oval Office for further discussions.
19:31 GMT
Trump has said he does not believe there is a threat of any “further aggression” against Ukraine.
19:25 GMT
Zelensky has said he is ready to discuss various issues, including territory, at a trilateral meeting with Putin and Trump.
19:25 GMT
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that security guarantees for Kiev must include maintaining a “powerful” Ukrainian army. He backed the idea of a ceasefire ahead of a potential trilateral meeting and added that Europe is counting on Trump to achieve peace. Macron also proposed discussing an end to the conflict at a four-party meeting with European participation.
© Global Look Press / Aaron Schwartz - Pool via CNP/Keystone Press Agency
18 August 2025
19:23 GMT
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO’s Article 5, which provides for collective defense in case of aggression.
19:17 GMT
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushed for a ceasefire during the multilateral talks, telling Trump that “we all would like to see a ceasefire, the latest from the next meeting on,” adding that he “can’t imagine” a trilateral meeting taking place without one.
Trump responded that the “six wars” that he has settled, ended without ceasefires. “We just got into negotiations,” he said.
19:14 GMT
Trump has said he believes the next step in resolving the conflict should be a trilateral meeting between himself, Putin, and Zelensky.
19:06 GMT
Trump has said that his meeting with European leaders and Zelensky will include discussion of a “possible exchange of territories.” He added that any such talks between Russia and Ukraine would take into account the “current line of contact” at the front.
19:00 GMT
The meeting has begun between Trump, European leaders and officials, and Zelensky.
19:00 GMT
Trump has posed for a ‘family photo’ with European leaders and Zelensky.
18:56 GMT
Trump and Zelensky have left for a meeting with European leaders, according to the White House.
18:41 GMT
The Trump–Zelensky meeting is reportedly continuing behind closed doors. According to the White House schedule, no joint statement is expected afterwards.
17:56 GMT
Trump has said he will call Putin after his meetings with Zelensky and European leaders. He added that if a trilateral meeting does not take place, the conflict will continue.
17:52 GMT
Trump has declared that Ukraine will not join NATO.

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