❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump says he hopes today’s bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and summit with major European leaders will result in a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and himself to negotiate an end to the war between the two Eastern European countries.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the leaders of the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, NATO, and the European Union (EU).
📍WHEN & WHERE: The White House in Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 18, 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat—and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.” — President Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: President Trump emphasized that any trilateral meeting must be aimed at securing an enduring and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
President Donald J. Trump has said he hopes today’s bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and summit with major European leaders will pave the way for a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and himself to negotiate an end to the war between the two Eastern European countries. Zelensky—and the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, NATO, and the European Union (EU)—gathered for an unprecedented summit at the White House on Monday after President Trump held bilateral discussions with Putin last Friday in what could mark a significant breakthrough towards ending the Ukraine war.
“If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat—and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that,” President Trump said. The America First leader emphasized that any trilateral meeting must be aimed at securing an enduring and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
.@POTUS: “If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat — and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.” pic.twitter.com/mDDdZNvEwo
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
While the last time Zelensky met with Trump at the White House, the meeting erupted into a diplomatic row, with the Ukrainian leader aggressively arguing with Vice President J.D. Vance on live television, Zelensky appeared far calmer and conciliatory this time. Since their initial rocky start, Trump and Zelensky have held several meetings, including one at the Vatican.
Last Friday, President Trump met with Putin at an American military base in Alaska. The leaders discussed a potential trilateral meeting and possible Russian concessions to end the conflict.
Movement by Russia on its demands and openness to Ukraine receiving security guarantees from the West are believed to have sparked today’s Ukrainian bilateral and European summit in Washington, D.C.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.