WASHINGTON — President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put on friendly faces in front of the world’s media in the Oval Office Monday — avoiding a replay of their ugly spat from February — as the American leader attempts to hammer out a peace deal in eastern Europe.
Trump, 79, reflected approvingly on the fact that Zelensky, 47, chose to wear a military-style suit in a sign of respect — ditching his usual camoflauge wardrobe, and both leaders handled occasionally hostile press questions without clashing.
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 sharing, and also persistent backing of “big countries.”
Trump met Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and hastily gathered Zelensky and seven European leaders Monday to discuss the final elements of a potential peace agreement.
Putin has requested that Ukraine surrender its hold on the eastern Donetsk province as a condition to end the war, while Zelensky has expressed fear that doing so would set the stage for a renewed onslaught.
Visiting European leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, have agreed to commit troops to a peacekeeping operation following the signing of any deal, which the allies assess would grant NATO-like protection to Kyiv without formal admission to the alliance.
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