Zelensky refuses to hand over territory to Russia, but Trump is satisfied. What does this mean?

Donald Trump welcomed Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House. Before the visit, Western media reported that senior European diplomats had given the Ukrainian president detailed instructions to avoid a repeat of the scandal during his last meeting with Trump. Their advice to avoid sharp words and instead offer constant praise appeared to shape the tone of this encounter from the very beginning. Whether this was the result of the diplomats’ coaching or Zelensky’s own lessons from past mistakes is unclear. Still, the Ukrainian leader avoided several errors he had made earlier this year in his talks with Trump, starting right from the White House doorstep.

The scandal at their earlier meeting in late February began with Zelensky’s less-than-cordial remarks toward the United States, which drew sharp reactions. Observers suggested that his demeanor was not as diplomatic as Trump expected, which angered the U.S. president. This time, Zelensky adjusted almost everything. His choice of appearance was more traditional, prompting Trump to open the meeting by complimenting his suit. Zelensky, in turn, thanked Trump three times in the short walk from the greeting area into the White House.

A peaceful conversation

Unlike their previous encounter, the discussion between Trump and Zelensky did not descend into verbal sparring. One factor was that Vice President J.D. Vance did not join them. Even so, the session with reporters produced several notable moments. At a summit in Alaska earlier this year, Trump had delivered a letter from Melania Trump to Vladimir Putin. This time, Zelensky opened the meeting by thanking both Donald and Melania Trump and presented the U.S. First Lady with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska. Afterward, a round of questions from the press began. Trump first pointed to a journalist who had previously criticized Zelensky for not wearing a suit during his February visit.

Trump: This is the person who “attacked” you last time.

Zelensky: I remember.

The reporter apologized for the earlier remark, saying Zelensky “looked great today.” The Ukrainian leader responded with humor, noting that while he had changed his appearance this time, the reporter was still wearing the same suit. After that, the discussion turned serious. Trump declared that the goal in Ukraine was not a temporary ceasefire but a lasting peace, adding that he would call Vladimir Putin immediately after his meeting with Zelensky.

Zelensky was then asked about elections in Ukraine. He said elections would be held, but not while the fighting continued. Trump pressed further, asking, “If you fight for another three years, will there be no elections during that time?” This time, Zelensky avoided a direct answer and instead responded with a laugh, a sign he had learned from earlier missteps with Trump. Both leaders were also asked questions they were less eager to address. Trump gave a vague answer when pressed on the level of NATO security guarantees for Ukraine, avoiding specifics. Zelensky, meanwhile, was asked about possible territorial concessions. A journalist posed the blunt question: “Are you ready to continue sending Ukrainian troops into the death zone for a few more years, or are you willing to redraw the maps?” Zelensky offered only a broad reply: “We live under attack every day. We need to stop this war to stop Russia.”

A map of Ukraine behind closed doors

After the press conference, Trump and Zelensky held a closed-door meeting. The details of such talks are usually kept secret, but this time a large map of Ukraine, marking territories occupied by Russia, was leaked from the meeting room. Other photos showed Trump gesturing toward the map while speaking to Zelensky. Analysts suggested that the presence of the map was intended to pressure the Ukrainian president into considering Putin’s terms.

Once the private talks concluded, Trump and Zelensky joined European leaders in the ceremonial hall. The expanded meeting opened with a photo session that included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Notably, Trump did not hold individual meetings with any of the European leaders. His only personal attention was reserved for Zelensky.

I will talk to Putin about regional issues – Zelensky

The broader session began with Trump making a lighthearted remark about Chancellor Merz’s sunburned face. Soon, however, the leaders turned to substantive matters. Trump signaled that he was considering decisions that day covering issues from territorial concessions to security guarantees. He also expressed confidence that he could secure a trilateral meeting with Putin and predicted a “great conversation” with the Russian leader. Observers noted that Trump often appeared to defend Putin’s position. For example, when Merz called for increased pressure on Moscow, Trump disagreed. And when Ursula von der Leyen raised the issue of children abducted by Russia, Trump reminded participants that “we are meeting today not to reach an agreement on this, but on another issue.”

Zelensky delivered his most important signal at this meeting, stating that territorial issues could be addressed in the planned trilateral talks with Putin. Macron countered that military operations should be halted before such talks, and suggested holding the negotiations in a four-way format instead of three. Zelensky, meanwhile, again referred to the map used to pressure him. He thanked Trump for displaying it and remarked that he was considering taking it back with him.

Talks continued even after the press conference ended. Foreign outlets reported that Trump called Putin during the ongoing discussions. Russia’s state news agency TASS confirmed that the phone conversation lasted 40 minutes. During this time, Zelensky’s scheduled interview with Fox News was abruptly canceled as he and Trump remained in talks. After a short break, they resumed discussions with European leaders in a “leaders-only” format.

According to the Financial Times, Zelensky used the meeting to lay out his objectives and proposals. Chief among them was an offer to purchase $100 billion worth of American weapons, including at least 10 Patriot air defense systems. Ukrainian and U.S. companies were also nearing a $50 billion deal on drone production. Zelensky’s central message to Trump was clear: he would not agree to any settlement requiring territorial concessions to Russia. Instead, he called for a ceasefire as the first step toward a comprehensive peace agreement. With that stance, Zelensky firmly rejected Putin’s ultimatum.

The visit began with Kellogg

Vladimir Zelensky began his first meeting in Washington with Keith Kellogg, the US President's special representative for Ukraine. The meeting took place at the High-Adams Hotel, located a few minutes from the White House. They discussed the situation on the front line and possible diplomatic solutions.

It should be noted that Kellogg, who was appointed special representative for Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of Trump’s second term, did not attend the Russia-US summit in Alaska. There are several reasons for this. Earlier this year, reports suggested that Kellogg was not well received by Russia and that someone else might replace him. Following this, Trump left Keith Kellogg in charge of Ukraine while transferring relations with Russia to his special representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. This indicates that Trump has so far refrained from acting against the Kremlin’s wishes. For Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House, it was almost certain that Trump’s forthcoming proposal would reflect the conditions set by Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

Nevertheless, Zelensky considered the meeting important and described it as very serious, as many European leaders were also present. After the talks with Kellogg, another significant development occurred ahead of the day’s main event. A few hours before Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, European leaders gathered at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington. According to the Ukrainian president, the meeting was held to coordinate positions with European allies before engaging with Trump. The leaders of Finland, the United Kingdom, Italy, the President of the European Commission, and the NATO Secretary General attended.