The atmosphere was markedly different this time around. In contrast to the tense and combative exchange witnessed during their February encounter, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared intent on projecting calm and avoiding open confrontation, even as key disagreements lingered beneath the surface.
When Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House, the Ukrainian president struck a deliberately modest tone. His suit, formal but untraditional, drew a passing compliment from Donald Trump. What lingered longer was Zelensky’s restraint — the repeated thanks, the cautious phrasing, and the silences that seemed to weigh as heavily as his words.
Inside the Oval Office, he offered little. Observers noted he seemed reluctant to press too far, mindful that his priorities might not perfectly match those of his host.
The mood shifted later, when both leaders faced the press alongside their European counterparts. Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron were explicit: a ceasefire, they argued, should be the first step before more ambitious negotiations. Trump disagreed, brushing aside the idea of a pause before seeking what he called a lasting settlement. Zelensky, caught between, chose not to echo either position in public.
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Although specifics remained under wraps, fragments emerged about the day’s closed-door sessions. Security guarantees for Kyiv dominated discussions. Zelensky later described them as “the starting point for peace,” but stopped short of spelling out what form they might take. He hinted only at large-scale arms deals with Washington and possible American purchases of Ukrainian-made drones, saying further details might be settled in the coming days.
On another point, Zelensky was less guarded: he said he was willing to meet Vladimir Putin directly if Moscow consented, and suggested Trump could play a role. That prospect remains uncertain — the Kremlin has long resisted such an encounter.
Maps also featured in the talks. Zelensky told reporters he showed Trump a version highlighting how little territory Russia controls after nearly three years of war — less than one percent, he claimed — and challenged depictions that suggested otherwise. It was, he implied, a reminder to Washington of Ukraine’s resilience.
For now, Zelensky has framed his visit as constructive, even “warm,” in contrast with his more awkward receptions in the past. But behind the carefully chosen words, little appears to have shifted. If anything, the meetings in Washington and Alaska bought both sides what they increasingly value most: time.
The front lines remain unchanged. The diplomacy, too, remains at a standstill.