Zelensky breaks silence after Trump and Putin fail to agree ceasefire at Alaska summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that he will travel to Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement came shortly after Trump called him to brief him on the outcome of his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Zelensky, the two leaders had what he described as a “long and meaningful conversation.” He explained that he first spoke one-on-one with Trump and later joined a broader discussion that included European leaders. Altogether, the talks lasted more than ninety minutes.

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to working “as productively as possible for the sake of peace.” He welcomed Trump’s idea of holding a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, while also stressing the importance of European involvement at every stage to guarantee security.

During the call, Trump reportedly shared key points from his talks with Putin. Several reports suggest that Putin signaled interest in a “comprehensive agreement” to end the war, with Trump saying he preferred “a fast peace deal” over a simple ceasefire. This statement is likely to cause concern in Kyiv, where leaders worry about being pressured into a deal that might compromise Ukraine’s interests.

Zelensky is expected to discuss these issues in detail when he arrives in Washington. However, his upcoming trip comes with some baggage: his last visit to the U.S. capital ended in a heated exchange with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Whether this meeting goes more smoothly could play a major role in shaping the next phase of the war.

Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground continues. Overnight, Russia launched fresh attacks, including one ballistic missile and 85 Shahed drones. Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 61 of the drones, but regions such as Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Chernihiv were still targeted.

European leaders are also closely involved. Trump has already spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK 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. While details of those talks remain limited, the level of engagement shows how much is at stake.

Some observers believe a provisional “air ceasefire” may be in the works ahead of the three-way leaders’ meeting. As one source told The Economist’s Oliver Carroll, “The skies will give signals about provisional results of these talks. The next week will be interesting.”

Zelensky’s challenge now will be to secure Ukraine’s long-term security while avoiding being rushed into a settlement that leaves his country vulnerable.