Monday evening, as the high-powered White House talks on ending the Russo-Ukrainian War appear to have wrapped up for the day, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to provide a summary of events, and he struck an optimistic tone in his remarks.
🚨 NEW pic.twitter.com/4kkBuLeKot
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
The President's post reads in full:
I had a very good meeting with distinguished guests, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron, of France, President Alexander Stubb, of Finland, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, of Italy, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of the United Kingdom, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, in the White House, which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office. During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America. Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
It's unclear what the president meant by "security guarantees for Ukraine," when reports earlier in the day indicated Russia's refusal to accept NATO troops in that role, but, presumably, more details will be forthcoming. Even so, the statement, "everyone is very happy about the possibility of peace for Russia/Ukraine," is hopeful, but it will be roundly interesting to see precisely what security guarantees for Ukraine will look like, not to mention what arrangements will be acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.
Read More: Russia Rejects NATO Forces As Security in Ukraine
‘Stop the Killing’: Trump, European Leaders Discuss Ending Russia-Ukraine War at White House
Next steps would seem to include arranging a meeting between Ukraine's President Zelensky and Russia's President Putin. That's the critical step, as any peace agreement, indeed any agreement at all, has to happen between these two men. In the presser before the big meeting, President Trump had indicated he would attend the initial meeting between Ukraine and Russia if they asked, but this statement looks as though the intent is for a one-on-one.
Then, there would seem to be a meeting planned with all three presidents at once: Trump, Putin, and Zelensky. As President Trump notes, he is engaging the Vice President, the Secretary of State, and the Special Envoy in coordination with both warring nations.
Things are moving ahead. A lot could still go wrong. But if this works, if this war can be brought to an end, this will see an end to the largest contest of arms in Europe since 1945.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.
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