Trump and Zelenskyy Meet at NATO Summit Amid Tensions Over Military Aid and Path to Peace
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a high-stakes meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Suspilne.
The 50-minute conversation, longer than initially scheduled, highlighted deepening questions about Washington’s future support for Ukraine, the potential delivery of air defense systems, and prospects for ending Russia’s war of aggression.
Zelenskyy, in a post on X, described the meeting as “a long and substantive,” stating that the two leaders addressed “all truly significant issues.”
He emphasized discussions around securing a sustainable peace and protecting Ukrainian civilians, and thanked the United States for its continued support. Details of the conversation are expected to be released later.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian President also congratulated President Trump on the recent successful U.S. military operation in the Middle East, which notably undermined both Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its drone production capabilities.
In addition, Zelenskyy briefed President Trump on recent technical negotiations held in Istanbul, as well as the latest developments regarding prisoner and body exchanges with Russia. Notably, Russia transferred the remains of its own fallen soldiers to Ukraine, where forensic efforts are now underway in Kyiv to identify them and contact their families.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump states that a ceasefire was not discussed. “We didn’t talk about a ceasefire,” he said. “I just wanted to check how he’s doing. He was very kind. We had a difficult period in the past, but now he couldn’t have been nicer.”
Trump hinted he may soon speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Maybe next week. I think it’s a great time to end this,” he said, referring to the war.
He also made the unverified claim that some 7,000 soldiers, Ukrainian and Russian, are dying each week.
Asked about the possibility of supplying U.S.-made Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, Trump said the issue is under review. “We transferred the air defense systems to Israel. We have to see whether we can provide them to Ukraine. I want to give them,” he added.
In a broader message to NATO allies, Trump praised what he called a “breakthrough” agreement. “After I was elected in November 2024, nearly every NATO country agreed to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP. Now, they’re committing to 5%. That’s nearly a trillion dollars a year. A huge win for Europe.”
The U.S. president also commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader intentions, suggesting the Kremlin may harbor territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine. “I think he’s a confused man. He’s close to Iran, he offered help. But I told him – help us solve the Russia issue first,” Trump said.
As The Gaze reported earlier, NATO allies agreed to include military assistance to Ukraine in their national defense spending calculations, effectively institutionalizing support for Kyiv within the Alliance’s long-term strategic planning.