A high-stakes summit unfolded at the White House, bringing together U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a notable coalition of European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. This significant gathering on August 18, 2025, aimed to advance peace efforts in the ongoing war in Ukraine, following Trump's earlier meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. The presence of the European leaders was a deliberate show of support for Zelenskyy, intended to reinforce his diplomatic position and avoid a repetition of the strained February encounter with Trump.

Ahead of the summit, President Trump had publicly outlined his demands for a peace plan, suggesting that Ukraine should relinquish control of Crimea and abandon its ambition to join NATO. He claimed that Zelenskyy possessed the immediate ability to end the war. However, Zelenskyy promptly rejected these terms, emphasizing that it was Russia's responsibility to end the conflict it initiated and that Ukrainians were fighting for their land and independence. He firmly stated his opposition to territorial concessions, particularly regarding Crimea and parts of the Donbas, referencing past compromises that had merely served as launching pads for renewed aggression.

The discussion surrounding a ceasefire was a pivotal point of contention during the talks. Trump initially dismissed the necessity of a ceasefire, citing his track record of resolving