US President Donald Trump has already arrived at the Oval Office to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Today, the two leaders will discuss the conditions that the Kremlin is demanding for peace.
The leaders will first hold a one-on-one discussion, after which European leaders will join the talks. These include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General, the Prime Ministers of the UK and Italy, the Presidents of France and Finland, and the Chancellor of Germany.
Ahead of the meeting, Russia has already struck Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy, the major centers in the regions in Russia's territorial swap agenda. Moscow has also deployed MiG aircraft capable of carrying Kinzhal missiles, which can reach any point in Ukraine.
10:20 PM: Trump says, "in a week or two," the US will know whether it has succeeded in its peace efforts, or battles in Ukraine will continue. Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders ended the press conference.
10:12 PM: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says today's meeting will begin and focus on discussions on security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5.
10:03 PM: Before the closed-door talks between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, a map of Ukraine was put on display. It was placed opposite the table where the leaders of Ukraine and the US were seated. The occupied territories were marked in pink.
9:57 PM: After meeting Zelenskyy, Trump posed with European leaders for a “family photo” before closed-door talks.
9:50 PM. The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy has ended. Now, they will both meet with European leaders, The Hill reports.
8:50 PM: As Zelenskyy meets Trump, Russia rejects NATO troops in Ukraine, blasting UK proposals as “provocative.”
8:42 PM: Zelenskyy has appeared in a more formal costume at the meeting with Trump. A journalist, who critisized the Ukrainian president the last time he visited the Oval Office, apologized for his previous comments and added that he looked "wonderful."
8:40 PM: The US president has said, regarding security guarantees, "We will give Ukraine very good security." However, no specific guarantees have been announced. At the same time, Kyiv will not join NATO, according to Trump.
8:35 PM: Trump claims it was a hard thing for Putin to come to Alaska. The American president has been criticized for the warm greeting of the Russian leader. The US Army rolled a red carpet for Putin, which many view as a symbol of Ukrainian blood spilled in Russia's war.
8:30 PM: Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants to hold elections. But "we have to ensure safe circumstances. We need a truce to make it possible."
8:15 PM: Zelenskyy has met with Trump.
Trump came out to greet him. Shortly before, the leaders of European countries and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had arrived there, BBC reports.
8:10 PM: The Ukrainian delegation has already arrived at the White House.
The delegation, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, includes:
▪️ Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov;
▪️ Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova;
▪️ Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andrii Yermak;
▪️ Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Serhii Kyslytsya;
▪️ Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Pavlo Palisa.
8:08 PM: Trump’s pastor, Mark Burns, stated that Putin’s demand to protect the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine is cynical, noting that the Kremlin itself bans Ukrainian churches in the occupied territories.
"It is deeply troubling that during peace talks in Alaska, Vladimir Putin had the audacity to demand protections for the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
This is the same institution being used by the Kremlin to justify war, bless missiles, and deceive millions by pretending their invasion is somehow holy," he stressed.
8:06 PM: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized just minutes before his meetings at the White House that his primary goal is "a reliable and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe."
"We understand that we shouldn't expect Putin to voluntarily abandon aggression and new attempts at conquest," he said.
Therefore, in his view, pressure from the US and Europe is essential.
8:00 PM: Ahead of the Trump–Zelenskyy talks, Ukraine revealed footage of its new Flamingo missile. Speeding along at 950 km/hr, it should be able to avoid all but the best Russian air defenses.
Ranging twice as far as the best current Ukrainian deep-strike munitions, and with a warhead that is several times heavier, the Flamingo has the potential to significantly escalate Ukraine’s strategic bombardment campaign targeting Russian factories, air bases, and oil refineries.
