- The White House scheduled a Trump–Zelenskyy bilateral for 1:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, followed by a 3 p.m. ET multilateral with visiting European leaders.
- On Sunday, Trump urged Kyiv to pursue a negotiated settlement and reiterated that Ukraine should not join NATO and that Crimea’s status would not be revisited.
- European leaders are in Washington to coordinate support for Ukraine and discuss security guarantees if talks progress.
The Big Picture
President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday, then meet with visiting European leaders to discuss the path toward ending the war and building post-conflict security for Ukraine. On Sunday, Trump wrote that Zelenskyy “can end the war… almost immediately,” and repeated his opposition to Ukraine joining NATO. Trump’s post on Truth Social followed White House press guidance laying out the Monday schedule. According to the White House, the leaders will confer on negotiations and broader European coordination.
What’s New
The timetable sets a 1:15 p.m. ET bilateral and a 3 p.m. ET multilateral at the White House. The sequencing heightens focus on whether a ceasefire framework comes first or whether parties try to outline a broader political deal while fighting continues. Trump’s public stance—no NATO for Ukraine and no reversal on Crimea—puts added pressure on Kyiv ahead of the talks.
What They’re Saying
Context
Virginia Times has tracked the evolving diplomacy since the Trump–Putin Alaska meeting and subsequent allied moves:
- Reporting on proposals for Article 5-style security guarantees as a potential compromise path: AP: Putin Open to Article 5-Style Ukraine Security Pledge.
- Nordic-Baltic leaders reaffirmed “no decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine,” signaling allied unity: Joint Statement of the Nordic-Baltic Eight.
- Russian commentary emphasized “equal security guarantees,” previewing Moscow’s position: Our coverage.
What’s Next
All eyes are on the 1:15 p.m. ET Trump–Zelenskyy bilateral and the 3 p.m. ET multilateral with European leaders. Watch for references to a ceasefire timeline, the shape of security guarantees, and how the parties address contested issues such as Crimea and occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Bottom Line
Monday’s meetings will test whether Washington and European capitals can align on a security architecture that Ukraine accepts—and whether Trump’s stated red lines sharpen or narrow the space for a settlement Kyiv can live with.
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