President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders will aim to defend Ukraine’s position in talks after President Trump aligned more closely with Russia. Hours before the meeting, Russia hit Ukraine with a deadly strike.

Broadcast and cable networks went to special reports on Monday as Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to journalists in the Oval Office in advance of talks of a peace deal to settle Ukraine’s war with Russia.

Zelensky said there were “two parts” that Kyiv needs as part of any peace deal, including a “strong Ukrainian army” featuring Western weaponry, training and intelligence

New negotiation, new look. When President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine arrived at the White House on Monday to meet with President Trump, he had swapped the military-style clothing that has been his de facto uniform since the war with Russia began in 2022, for a more statesmanlike ensemble: black field jacket, black shirt and black slacks.

President Zelensky said he is open to holding an election in his country, though cited challenges during the war. “Yes, of course,” Zelensky said in response to a question from a reporter. He said one couldn’t happen during war but the goal is to “make possible for people to do democratic,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is returning to the White House, where he will be briefed on President Trump’s Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In Alaska, the Russian leader proposed that Ukraine hand over the remainder of the Donbas region to Moscow to stop the fighting.

President Donald Trump is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with a number of European leaders, in Washington D.C. later on Monday.