An important statement from Zelensky

The Ukrainian president made a significant remark regarding a “diplomatic” solution and the end of the war.

When asked whether he is ready today to redraw his country’s borders or will continue sending citizens to the battlefield to die, the Ukrainian president responded with a maneuver that was not in his “repertoire” six months ago at the White House. He emphasized that he supports the position of the U.S. and Donald Trump for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis and pointed to Moscow, citing yesterday’s deadly strike in Kharkiv.

The burning question: Will there be American forces as part of the security guarantees?

Trump was asked three times in total about the presence of U.S. forces in Ukraine within the framework of security guarantees. Not once did he answer with a clear “no.” His most substantial remarks on developments can be summarized as follows:

1. The U.S. president speaks openly about protecting Ukraine and supporting it through the NATO mechanism.
2. “I do not rule out the presence of American forces in the day after.”
3. He refers to long-term security guarantees, not a two-year “freeze plan.”
4. He clearly expects military involvement from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

In any case, Trump appears to have made a significant shift compared to what he said — or rather did not say — last Friday at the Alaskan military base where he welcomed the Russian president.

It should also be taken as a given that the Kremlin’s leaks ahead of the Washington meeting with Zelensky — about “non-acceptance of NATO forces on Ukrainian soil” — were well-founded and based on accurate information about what was to follow…

All Developments on the Crucial Trump–Zelensky–European Leaders Meeting

• Trump will first meet Zelensky and then the European leaders. Earlier, the U.S. president conveyed that Ukraine will not regain Crimea nor join NATO.
• The seven European leaders meeting Trump are: Ursula von der Leyen, Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
• From the U.S. side, in addition to President Trump, will be Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg.
• The Ukrainian delegation includes President Zelensky, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, and Rustem Umerov, former Defense Minister and current Head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.
• The White House announced the schedule as follows (all times Greek local time):
  • 19:00 – Arrival of European leaders
  • 20:00 – Donald Trump welcomes Volodymyr Zelensky
  • 20:15 – Bilateral Trump–Zelensky meeting begins
  • 21:15 – Trump welcomes European leaders
  • 22:00 – Multilateral meeting with Trump, European leaders, and Zelensky

18/08/2025 14:52 – Last-Minute Summit Meeting, a Rare Event

Last-minute meetings with world leaders are rare at the White House. Most diplomats interviewed by CNN over the weekend said they could not recall another instance of presidents and prime ministers rearranging their schedules for urgent talks in Washington.

European officials emphasized that their decision to travel to the U.S. capital reflects the urgency to coordinate with President Donald Trump on the Russia–Ukraine conflict, as well as concern about being sidelined.

Leaders traveled separately to Washington but coordinated their positions ahead of the Trump meeting.
— Giannis Charamidis

It is extremely rare to discuss a “peace agreement” without a prior ceasefire. The war in Ukraine, which will reach its fourth anniversary next February, is one such case. Russia called for a ceasefire last May just before its Victory Day parade against Nazi Germany, and Ukraine has done so every Christmas—but neither side has respected these unilateral declarations.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb) arrives at the White House 🇺🇸 🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/Eql9jQbYZr

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025