Trump calls Putin after Zelenskyy meeting at White House

Trump was caught on a hot microphone Monday saying, “I think he wants to make a deal for me” before a White House meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

The comment, captured in the East Room as leaders gathered for the meeting, appeared to reference Russian President Vladimir Putin, though it was unclear who Trump was addressing.

“He set up a tri-lat. I think he wants to make a deal for me. Do you understand that, as crazy as it sounds,” Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron before telling everyone to sit down and allowing media into the room briefly.

The White House posted a photo on Monday night showing President Trump in the Oval Office speaking on the phone with Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that “important negotiations” took place in Washington with President Trump and European leaders. He said the talks were long and detailed, covering battlefield developments, steps toward peace, and security guarantees — a key starting point for ending the war.

Zelenskyy said discussions also focused on the return of kidnapped children and the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia.

He thanked Trump for hosting the meeting and supporting a leaders-level summit, and praised European leaders Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni, Alexander Stubb, Ursula von der Leyen and Mark Rutte for their support.

“Today was an important step, a demonstration of genuine unity between Europe and the United States,” Zelenskyy wrote.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the White House meeting with President Trump, President Zelenskyy and European leaders was “very intensive” and “consequential” for Ukraine and Europe.

He thanked the European leaders for joining him to support Zelenskyy and European interests, emphasizing that meaningful discussions can only occur with Ukraine present and after fighting ceases.

Merz confirmed Trump spoke with Putin during a break to discuss a potential bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy in the next two weeks, followed by a trilateral with Trump. He said Ukraine cannot be forced to give up territory and that security guarantees should be coordinated with the U.S. and Europe should a ceasefire be reached.

Merz said the talks covered the nearly 20,000 kidnapped Ukrainian children. He praised Trump’s hospitality.

On Germany’s potential role, Merz said any peacekeeping involvement would require consultation with the U.S., U.K. and broader Europe.

He added that while expectations for a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting remain uncertain, the EU stands united in pursuing peace.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said more details will be finalized in the coming days.

Rutte stressed the importance of Europe and the U.S. standing united, noting that European nations are increasing defense spending to match U.S. levels.

He called the talks a clear signal to Moscow that “we are serious.” He added that Monday’s focus was on security guarantees for Ukraine, with a trilateral meeting to follow an initial bilateral.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders was “good and constructive” with “a real sense of unity.”

Starmer outlined two key outcomes: an agreement for the coalition of 30 countries already providing security guarantees to Ukraine to coordinate those efforts with the U.S. and an agreement for a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, followed by a trilateral that would include Trump.

He said these talks will allow Ukraine to be directly at the table on critical issues such as territory, prisoner exchanges and the return of children, calling the progress “positive” and “important for security in Ukraine, Europe and the United Kingdom.”

President Trump said on Truth Social that he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have been discussing the “massive worldwide problem of missing children.” He added that the issue is also a priority for first lady Melania Trump and expressed hope that global cooperation can help bring children home to their families.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says no date has been determined yet for the trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump.

“We don’t have any date. We don’t have any day,” Zelenskyy said in English, noting Ukraine first wants to see the results of a proposed bilateral meeting. He added that Ukraine remains committed to peace and is ready for talks “in any kind of format, but on the level of leaders.”

Axios senior political reporter Marc Caputo joins “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” to discuss President Trump’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent days.

John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser in Trump’s first term, joins “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” to discuss the high-stakes meeting between Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I don’t think he is really taking cognizance of just how big the differences are between the Russian position and the Ukrainian position,” Bolton says.

The White House said it would not go beyond President Trump’s Truth Social post about his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials confirmed Trump took the call in the Oval Office without European leaders or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy present.

A White House spokesperson told NewsNation the president is “pursuing peace. No other president who can move the needle on this.” No timeline has been set for a bilateral or trilateral meeting, though Trump said in the East Room he hopes for progress within the next week or two.

The Kremlin said Presidents Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for about 40 minutes in what aide Yuri Ushakov described as a “candid” and “very constructive” call.

According to the Kremlin readout, Trump informed Putin of his talks with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two discussed expanding direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations and agreed to stay in close contact on the Ukraine crisis and other key issues.

Putin praised Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict and thanked him for his hospitality and organization of their Alaska summit.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reiterated his call for a ceasefire after meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington.

“It is a good meeting with President Trump, President Zelenskyy, and our European partners today in Washington, but the next steps will be more complicated,” Merz posted on X. “We must put pressure on Russia. There must be a ceasefire before further talks.”

President Trump said he had a “good meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, where they discussed security guarantees for Ukraine to be provided by European countries with U.S. coordination.

Trump said he called Russian President Vladimir Putin afterward to begin arranging a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, followed by a trilateral meeting with all three leaders. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine.

In a Truth Social post, Trump described the talks as “a very good, early step” toward peace in the nearly four-year war.

A meeting in the East Room between President Trump, European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ended, according to a senior White House official.

The group has moved to the Oval Office, where Trump said they would continue discussions. It is unclear whether Trump has called or spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the meeting, despite some reports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X: “We are here, as allies and friends, for peace in Ukraine and in Europe. This is an important moment, as we continue to work on strong security guarantees for Ukraine and a lasting and durable peace.”

The White House also posted a photo of Trump and Zelenskyy with the caption, “Pursuing Peace.”

The president fell back on his usual time frame for any major decision, suggesting he would know in two weeks whether this deal could be done.

In the past, Trump’s two-week promises have resulted in decisions being made earlier and at times pushed off until much later.

He closed the conversation with reporters, saying the leaders would be meeting for a while.

European leaders have suggested the next step in negotiations would be trilateral meetings between Ukraine, Russia and the U.S.

There are still major hurdles when it comes to peace, including security guarantees for Ukraine, something Russia may reject, and land swaps, which Zelenskyy has historically refused to entertain when it comes to a deal.

Several leaders at the table have raised the need for security guarantees for Ukraine and, by extension, other European countries.

Trump has previously been less committed to security guarantees, and it’s not clear exactly what they might entail at this time.

German Chancellor Friedrick Merz said he could not imagine another meeting taking place without a ceasefire in place.

Trump has tempered that expectation, saying there is no ceasefire demand during negotiations.

Putin did not agree to a ceasefire during Friday’s meeting in Alaska, something Merz said the country needs to be pressured to do.

Both Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the need to return children to Ukraine.

When the war began, many of the country’s children were evacuated, often with their mothers going with them and their fathers remaining behind.

Von der Leyen said the return of children would be a highest priority.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said President Trump broke a deadlock in discussions.

“The fact that you have said you’re willing to participate in security guarantees is a breakthrough and a huge step,” he said.