Trump: "Will hold trilateral talks with Zelensky and Putin...Location undecided" [Lee Sang-eun's Washington Now]

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C. on the 18th (local time). The atmosphere was much smoother than last February when things ended in disruption. Both sides focused on discussing possible options with mutual courtesy.

President Zelensky arrived at the White House just after 1 p.m. that afternoon. Sitting across from President Trump, he emphasized, "We are under attack every day," and "the war must be stopped." He also stated that he was prepared to hold a trilateral meeting that included President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Seven European leaders also visited the White House the same day, aligning with President Zelensky's visit. Those who arrived before President Zelensky later joined the multilateral meeting after the one-on-one between President Zelensky and President Trump.

During the one-on-one meeting with President Zelensky, President Trump responded to reporters' questions by saying, "They (Europe) are the first line of defense," and "because they are in Europe." He added, "However, we will help them. We will get involved." In the multilateral meeting that day, President Trump stressed the need for discussions with European leaders before noting, "We will provide them (Ukraine) with very good protection and very good security." He reaffirmed plans to push for a peace agreement by saying, "We will achieve lasting peace."

This is the first time since taking office last January that President Trump has publicly expressed a clear intention to be involved in Ukraine's security guarantees. Previously, on the 15th, after meeting with President Putin in Alaska, President Trump communicated his willingness to participate in security guarantees with European leaders by phone. European leaders' visit to the White House this day serves both to prevent talks with President Zelensky from collapsing once more and to obtain a reaffirmed commitment to U.S. involvement in security guarantees from President Trump.

At the meeting, President Trump expressed his intention to arrange a trilateral summit. He said, "If all goes well today, a trilateral meeting will be held," and added, "If that happens, there will be a reasonable chance to end the war."

Washington=Lee Sang-eun, Correspondent selee@hankyung.com