Summary

  • Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders have held talks with Donald Trump in the White House about ending the war in Ukraine

  • Zelensky says the talks with Trump were the "best" so far - Trump calls the talks "very good"

  • After meeting the European leaders, Trump called Vladimir Putin, to discuss a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders

  • Trump says he discussed security guarantees with the European leaders, which could be co-ordinated by the US

  • A "security guarantee" could mean anything from boots on the ground to sharing intelligence, writes our security correspondent Frank Gardner

  • UK PM Keir Starmer tells the BBC that negotiations on security guarantees will continue today

Live Reporting

Edited by Stuart Lau and Gavin Butler

  1. Analysis

    What form could a US security guarantee take?

    Frank Gardner
    Security correspondent

    At the heart of any future permanent peace deal between Ukraine and Russia will be some sort of security guarantee, aimed at deterring Russia from attacking Ukraine again.

    Up until now, the US has been reluctant to make any commitment in this direction, leaving it up to Britain and France with their so-called "coalition of the willing". But after talks in the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump said those security guarantees could be met by European nations in "co-ordination with the United States".

    So what form could this take? There are broadly four possibilities:

    • Boots on the ground - This is considered the least likely. Donald Trump views this war as Europe’s problem. For him to commit ground troops, even in a peacekeeping role, to a conflict he deeply dislikes would take a major about-face
    • Air and sea patrols - This is more conceivable. The US has already operated surveillance flights to monitor the course of the war. But there is a world of difference between a non-confrontational reconnaissance flight or maritime patrol and an armed clash with a nuclear power like Russia
    • Intelligence - US satellite and aerial intelligence have proved vital in helping Ukraine hold back the advance of Russia’s invading forces. In the event of a peace deal agreed to by all sides, this is one area where the US would probably be happy to assist
    • Logistics - Whatever form the UK/French-led "reassurance force" eventually takes in the event of a peace deal, then it’s going to need a lot of logistical support - and this is one non-lethal area that Washington would likely be happy to help with

  2. Key takeaways from Ukraine talks in Washington

    Zelensky and Trump seated in the middle of the Oval office, surrounded by other officialsGetty Images

    President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders arrived at the White House on Monday to meet US President Donald Trump for fresh talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

    Here are some of the key takeaways.

    • A Putin-Zelensky meeting on the cards? Trump said that he had called Putin to arrange bilateral talks between the Russian leader and Zelensky. Following this, there would be a trilateral meeting including Trump, the US president said
    • Trump and Europeans disagree over ceasefire - Trump seemed to dismiss the need for a ceasefire before further negotiations to end the war, a stance that drew opposition from European leaders. "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire," said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "So, let's work on that and let's try to put pressure on Russia"
    • Trump hints at security guarantees - the US would help guarantee Ukraine's security, Trump said. This is the most decisive he has ever sounded on the issue of security guarantees, which are a key concern for Ukraine. It is not clear what form those would take, with possibilities including foreign troops deployed on the ground, joint air and sea patrols, intelligence sharing or logistical support - more on this from security correspondent Frank Gardner here
    • Zelensky launches charm offensive - in a shift from his acrimonious last visit to the White House, Zelensky dialled up the charm today, dressed in a suit, armed with a personal letter from his wife and a flurry of six "thank yous" in the first few minutes of the meeting
    • For more on what went down at today's high-stakes meeting, read this story

  3. Sigh of relief among Nato states, says former deputy secretary general

    Goettemoeller looking at the camera during her television interview, wearing black wired earphones

    Putin's acknowledgement of the need for security guarantees in Ukraine, and Trump saying that the US would be involved in those, is "an enormous step forward in terms of gaining peace in Ukraine", Rose Goettemoeller, former Nato deputy secretary general, told the BBC earlier today.

    It also comes as "an enormous reassurance to the Nato allies", she added.

    "They had been concerned that the US would be removing itself from their defence and now having this reassurance at the highest level is very important."

    The Nato summit in June "started the momentum in this direction", Ms Goettemoeller said.

    Trump has long accused his European allies of not spending enough on defence and instead relying on the US.

    At the summit this year, Nato leaders agreed to raise their military spending to 5% of their GDP - a move hailed by Trump as a "big win".

  4. Here's what European leaders said about the meeting

    Leaders stand in a row at the White House to pose for a photoGetty Images

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today's talks were the best so far and that he was "ready for a bilateral with Putin".

    Here's what the other European leaders who were at the White House had to say:

    UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was "very pleased" with the outcome of the meeting today, which demonstrated a "real sense of unity" among the leaders. He emphasised that "no decision should be made about Ukraine, without Ukraine".

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Trump to "put pressure on Russia for a ceasefire. "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire," he said. Putin had agreed to a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks, Merz said.

    French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Merz's comments for a ceasefire, but also said that European military forces should help Ukraine with "boots on the ground".

    Finnish President Alexander Stubb struck a more cautious tone, saying there was "nothing concrete" about US participation in security guarantees for Ukraine. As for the bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin, he said the Russian leader "cannot be trusted".

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said one of the most important questions was "how to be sure that it won't happen again, which is the precondition of every kind of peace".

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated calls for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, saying the "human cost of this war must end".

    Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte called Trump a "pragmatic peacemaker" and said the leaders would be working on security guarantees over the next few days.

  5. Analysis

    Zelensky leaves White House unscathed as he buys more time

    Vitaly Shevchenko
    BBC Monitoring's Russia editor

    US President Donald Trump is wearing a blue suit and white tie, standing next to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky wears a black shirt and black suit jacket, and waves towards the camera.Getty Images

    The optics could not have been more different this time.

    Unlike the shockingly ill-tempered previous meeting in February, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky seemed determined not to look confrontational - despite their remaining differences.

    Zelensky wore a collared suit (although not of the classical variety), and Trump complimented his attire. The Ukrainian president also repeatedly said "thank you", which must have pleased his host, too.

    At his opening appearance in the Oval Office, Zelensky spoke little - or maybe he was not keen to, fearing that what he had to say was different from what Trump wanted to hear.

    Differences showed later, when the US and Ukrainian presidents appeared before journalists together with European leaders.

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron both said a ceasefire in Ukraine should be the next step, even though Trump had argued that it was not necessary before a more permanent solution is found.

    Zelensky remained conspicuously quiet on the issue.

    What we heard from the leaders suggests that their discussions behind closed doors focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and prospects for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin.

    Read the rest of our analysis here.

  6. Negotiations on security guarantee will continue today - Starmer

    In an interview with the BBC, UK PM Keir Starmer said there would be further negotiations on Ukraine's security guarantees with the US on Tuesday.

    "We're now going to be working with the US on those security guarantees," he said in Washington DC on Monday. "We've tasked our teams. Some of them are even arriving tomorrow to start the detailed work on that."

    Starmer added that the guarantees would "reassure people in Europe, in Ukraine, but particularly in the United Kingdom."

    Zelensky told reporters earlier that security guarantees for Ukraine would be formalised within 10 days. Part of those guarantees include a purchase of $90bn (£66bn) of US weapons, he said.

  7. What did Trump and Zelensky talk about?

    Zelensky, in a black suit with black shirt, and Trump in a blue suit with a red tie, smile and shake hands sat on yellow chairs in the Oval OfficeEPA

    Before the group discussion with European leaders, Trump hosted Zelensky for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office.

    The Ukrainian president said it was the "best" meeting he had ever had with his US counterpart, adding the talks were "constructive" and "specific". He also said he had shown Trump "a lot of details" on a map of the battlefield.

    Based on what the pair have said since, it appears the meeting was focused on two things:

    • establishing security guarantees for Ukraine
    • setting up a trilateral meeting between Zelensky, Trump and Putin

    We don't have details of what form those security guarantees could take, or of when and where a trilateral meeting could take place.

    But both leaders appeared happy about how the talks went - a stark contrast to how things turned out after Zelensky's previous Oval Office visit.

  8. Zelensky goes to Washington: How the visit unfolded

    We'll bring you more analysis on the aftermath of yesterday's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was flanked by seven key European allies.

    In the meantime, here's a quick breakdown of how the day unfolded:

    Donald Trump (L) in black suit, white shirt and red tie shakes hands with a smiling Volodymyr Zelensky (R) as he welcomes him on the north portico of the White HouseGetty Images

    Zelensky arrived at the White House after a two-hour meeting with the other European leaders at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington DC

    White House head of protocol Monica Crowley (L) in a white cocktail dress shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a black suit, as she arrives to the White HouseGetty Images

    The seven European leaders arrived separately to the White House and waited for Trump and Zelensky to have their one-on-one meeting before joint talks

    Wide shot of the inside of the Oval Office. Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump are in the centre sitting on matching yellow brocade fabric chairs, their aides sitting to their sides on matching pale yellow couches. Overhead are four boom micsGetty Images

    Zelensky and Trump had a much more amicable meeting compared to their last Oval Office exchange in February

    From left to right: Ursula von der Leyen in bright coral blazer; Sir Keir Starmer in black suit; Alexander Stubb in black suit; Volodymyr Zelensky in black blazer and trousers; Donald Trump in black suit; Emmanuel Macron in black suit; Giorgia Meloni in black blazer and trousers with white shirt; Friedrich Merz and Mark Rutte, both in dark suitsGetty Images

    Ahead of their meeting, the leaders posed for a quick photo inside the White House

    Wide shot of the leaders sitting at a wooden table in wooden chairs. On the left side are Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Giorgia Meloni and Friedrich Merz. On the right side are Mark Rutte, Volodymyr Zelensky, Alexander Stubb and Ursula von der Leyen. In the background, inside white and grey plastic cubicles are the leaders' interpretersGetty Images

    The group then took their seats and briefly addressed the press before starting their private summit

  9. Zelensky says he's open to bilateral or trilateral meeting involving Putin

    Zelensky has said that no date has been confirmed for any future talks between himself and Putin.

    "If Russia proposed to president of the United States bilateral, and then we will see the result of bilateral, and then can be the trilateral," Zelensky told reporters outside the White House after the meeting.

    "Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace," he said, adding he's ready for "any format".

  10. Trump on potential Putin talks and security guarantees

    Earlier on Monday, Donald Trump confirmed he had spoken to Vladimir Putin during today's talks at the White House.

    "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy," he wrote.

    "After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself."

    Trump also said security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed during today's talks, which he says "would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America".

  11. European leaders meet Trump in Oval Office

    From left to right, we can see Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Alexander Stubb, Volodymyr Zelensky and Mark Rutte sat on chairs pulled up around a coffee table in the Oval Office..

    The US president posted a photo to Instagram of European leaders gathered in the Oval Office for peace talks on Monday.

    From left to right, we can see Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Alexander Stubb, Volodymyr Zelensky and Mark Rutte.

    Various advisors are clustered in armchairs behind them, including US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

  12. White House meeting is over - now we await details on Zelensky-Putin meeting and security guarantees

    Stuart Lau
    Live page editor

    Welcome to our continued live coverage, as the political discussions continue following the White House meeting between the American, Ukrainian and European leaders yesterday.

    If you're just joining us, a key outcome is the possibility of direct meetings between Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, and Zelensky and possibly Trump. That comes after Trump made a call to Putin as the White House meeting was going on.

    But a noncommittal statement from Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on Monday night said only that it was "worthwhile" to "explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives" from the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in negotiations.

    Another major talking point is on security guarantees. Trump says security guarantees for Ukraine would be "provided" by European countries with "coordination" by the US. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told the BBC that the UK negotiators will shortly be arriving in Washington for further planning on this.

    Stay with us as we bring you further updates throughout the day.