Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on August 18 to discuss strategies for ending Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The announcement follows a lengthy phone call between the two leaders on Friday, just a day after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, which yielded no ceasefire agreement.

The call and upcoming meeting signal a renewed push for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, now in its third year, as Ukraine seeks to ensure its voice is central to any peace negotiations. Zelensky, who was not invited to the Alaska summit, emphasized the importance of U.S. involvement in securing a just resolution to the war.

During Friday’s call, Zelensky said Trump extended an invitation for the Washington meeting, where the leaders will focus on “the end of the killings, the end of the war.” Zelensky expressed optimism about “positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing security to Ukraine,” highlighting Washington’s critical role in the peace process.

Zelensky also voiced support for Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. “The three leaders can cover the key issues,” he said, underscoring that Ukraine must be included in all discussions, particularly those concerning its territorial integrity. “No issue, including territorial ones, can be resolved without Ukraine,” he stressed in a statement posted on Telegram.

The Ukrainian president used the call to advocate for stronger measures against Russia if it continues to obstruct peace efforts. Zelensky told Trump that sanctions against Moscow must be tightened if Putin refuses to participate in a trilateral meeting or fails to comply with terms for a just end to the war. “Sanctions are an effective tool,” he said. “We need to guarantee a lasting, long-term security with the participation of both Europe and the United States.”

The call for sanctions comes amid growing concerns in Kyiv that Russia’s resolve remains unshaken. At the Anchorage summit on August 15, Putin reiterated his focus on the “root causes” of the conflict, a phrase widely interpreted as a demand to dismantle Ukraine’s sovereignty. The summit ended without a ceasefire agreement, with Trump acknowledging that the talks had not achieved a breakthrough, though he claimed “some headway” was made.

Ukraine’s StanceZelensky’s insistence on Ukraine’s inclusion in peace talks reflects Kyiv’s wariness of any deal brokered without its input. Recent reports from Reuters (August 15, 2025) indicate that Ukrainian officials are particularly concerned about concessions that could compromise territorial integrity, given Russia’s history of violating agreements. The absence of a deal in Anchorage was met with cautious relief in Ukraine, but Zelensky’s comments signal a proactive approach to shaping the next phase of negotiations.

The upcoming Washington meeting could set the stage for a broader diplomatic effort, though uncertainties persist. Russia’s intensified military operations in eastern Ukraine, as reported by The Guardian on August 14, 2025, suggest that Putin remains committed to his military objectives, complicating prospects for peace.

Zelensky’s trip to Washington represents a critical opportunity to align U.S. and Ukrainian strategies for ending the war. With Trump facing domestic and international scrutiny after the inconclusive Alaska summit, the meeting could also test his ability to deliver on his self-proclaimed role as a peacemaker.

As Ukraine braces for continued Russian aggression, Zelensky’s call for robust sanctions and inclusive talks underscores Kyiv’s determination to secure a lasting peace on its terms. The world will be watching closely as the August 18 meeting approaches, with hopes that it will bring clarity to the path forward in one of the most protracted conflicts of our time. (ILKHA)