Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington following Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which yielded no agreements to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Zelenskiy expressed gratitude for the invitation, stating that the two leaders will discuss critical issues regarding the cessation of violence and the war during their meeting on March 4, 2024.
The Ukrainian president described his recent conversation with Trump as “long and substantive,” highlighting their discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine. “It is important that Europeans are involved at every stage to ensure reliable security guarantees together with America,” Zelenskiy emphasized. He reiterated the significance of European involvement in ensuring a stable resolution, noting positive signals from the US regarding participation in Ukraine’s security framework.
Zelenskiy and Trump engaged in a one-on-one dialogue, which later included discussions with various European leaders. The total length of these conversations reached an hour and a half, illustrating the urgency of the situation. While Trump provided a warm reception to Putin in Alaska, the summit ended without any concrete steps to conclude the war, with Trump remarking, “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Putin had previously indicated that the two leaders had formed an “understanding” on Ukraine, cautioning Europe against hindering what he described as “nascent progress.”
Upon returning to Washington, Trump did not address reporters but engaged in discussions with NATO leaders after his call with Zelenskiy. Among those contacted were German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. A spokesperson for the European Commission, Arianna Podesta, did not disclose details of these conversations.
As the conflict continues, Russian military operations persisted overnight, with Ukraine’s Air Force reporting the use of a ballistic missile and an assault involving 85 Shahed drones. A total of 61 of these drones were intercepted, while frontline regions including Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Chernihiv faced attacks.
The absence of concrete outcomes from the US-Russia summit raises questions about the future of Ukraine’s security and the role of international partners in stabilizing the region. Russian Foreign Affairs Adviser Yuri Ushakov indicated that discussions about a potential trilateral meeting involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskiy have yet to be addressed.
As the situation unfolds, the upcoming meeting between Zelenskiy and Trump will be closely monitored for any developments that could influence Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for peace and security.
