Without the help of President Donald Trump, the deadlock with Russian President Vladimir Putin would have continued, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Monday.
Rutte said Trump was instrumental in getting the Russian leader to come to the table for discussion to ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Without President Trump... This deadlock with Putin would not have been broken," Rutte said during a Monday appearance on “The Ingraham Angle.” "He was the only one who could do this, starting in February.”
Rutte also said Trump was right in his criticism of NATO over the lack of defense spending by its member states. Trump has long demanded that NATO's 32-member countries spend more to ensure their security.
“What he was saying is that the U.S. is spending so much more on its defense and therefore spending on the collective defense of NATO territory than the Europeans," Rutte said. "And I hope the Americans see this, probably one of his biggest foreign policy successes of his presidency, of Trump 47, is that during the NATO summit we committed collectively to this 5% spending, including 3.5% on the core defense spending."
"That's the same the U.S. is spending, so now we are equalizing what the U.S. is spending and what the Europeans are spending," he added.
President Donald Trump began coordinating the next steps in trying to broker an end to the war with a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.
On Truth Social, Trump said he called Putin to begin arrangements for the next meeting at a location to be determined.
“After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself," he wrote. "Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Earlier in the day, Trump was caught in a hot-mic moment telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Putin wants to find a resolution to bring the war in Ukraine to an end for him.
"I think [Putin] wants to make a deal," Trump whispered to Macron in the East Room as they were preparing for Monday's talks. "I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds."
This is an excerpt from a report by Fox New Digital's Alec Schemmel.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Donald Trump that he will agree to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the next two weeks.
The agreement made to Trump was first reported by The Agence France-Presse, which cited German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"The American president spoke with the Russian president and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks," Merz told reporters following Monday's White House talks, according to AFP.
Meanwhile, AFP also reported that Zelenskyy says he is equally ready to meet with Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
{{#rendered}}Congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have indicated they are ready to pass sanctions against Russia following the current recess set to end in a few weeks.
The congressional leaders' comments come following Trump's Friday summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and talks this week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside other European leaders. No peace deal to end the war in Ukraine has been made yet, but Trump has signaled that key agreements have been met and a deal could be coming soon.
"As peace talks continue today in Washington, the U.S. Senate stands ready to provide President Trump any economic leverage needed to keep Russia at the table to negotiate a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Monday on X.
Meanwhile, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a press release slamming President Donald Trump's "reluctance to hold Putin to account" following the pairs' Friday summit, that if the president doesn't act to hold Russia accountable for its part in the war, then Congress must.
"Enough is enough. If President Trump won’t act, Congress must do so decisively by passing crushing sanctions when we return in the coming weeks," Shaheen said. "I will also continue to press for my bipartisan legislation to bolster Ukraine’s defense and negotiating position with additional security assistance and my bipartisan bill to go after Russia’s enablers in China. There is no appetite in Congress to entertain a relationship with Russia while Putin continues to kidnap Ukrainian children and murder innocent civilians."
This is an excerpt from a report by Fox New Digital's Alex Miller.
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were seen engaged in discussion next to a map of Ukraine, where the eastern territories currently occupied by Russia were shaded off in red, according to an image released by the White House.
The map may have served as a point of reference for Trump and Zelenskyy to discuss territorial concessions that will likely be included in a peace deal with Russia.
Zelenskyy said he showed Trump the “details” of the battlefield on the map. “We had a constructive, specific meeting,” he said.
Russia currently controls around 20% of the territory Ukraine claims for itself, including the Crimean Peninsula, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
The White House meeting between President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and seven other European leaders has ended, Fox News has confirmed.
The group of leaders met after a bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, which the Ukrainian leader described as "very good." Following the group meeting, Trump said he would call Russian President Vladimir Putin to update him on the latest in peace deal negotiations.
The leaders in the meeting were: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
{{#rendered}}The Russian Foreign Ministry roundly rejected the idea of NATO forces serving as peacekeepers in Ukraine, a provision sought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his European allies in U.S.-brokered peace talks.
"We confirm the position that has been voiced more than once about our categorical rejection of any scenarios involving the appearance of Ukraine military contingent with the participation of NATO countries (which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences)," a foreign ministry statement reported by Russian state media outlet Ria read.
President Donald Trump already suggested a European-led peacekeeping force to ensure Russia does not invade Ukraine again would be a part of peace talks. Asked if U.S. would contribute forces, Trump said: “[Europe is] first line of defense, because they're there, they're Europe, but we're going to help them out also, we'll be involved.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested the U.S. go after Moscow's war coffers with sanctions on China and any other nation doing business with Russia.
“My advice to President Trump and [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] is, you’ve got to convince Putin that if this war doesn’t end justly and honorably with Ukraine making concessions also, we’re going to destroy the Russian economy,” Graham, R-S.C., told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.” “We have the ability to do it.”
Graham is co-sponsoring legislation that would allow Trump to impose 500 percent tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil.
Trump in August already slapped 50 percent tariffs on India in part for its Russian oil purchases.
“If we take it to the next level and tell China you’re next, then I think we can have an end to this war,” Graham said. “The second most important person on the planet to end this war is President Xi in China. If he went to Putin and said it’s time to end this war, I can’t help you anymore because you’re putting my country at threat, this war would end.”
The European Union is preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, signaling continued resolve as the war drags past its three-and-a-half-year mark.
The announcement of the upcoming sanctions package, the 19th such round, comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Donald Trump and key European leaders at the White House to discuss prospects for ending the war.
Zelenskyy has consistently endorsed coordinated Western sanctions as a vital tool against Russia’s economic war chest.
Following waves of coordinated Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine, Russia has become the world’s most sanctioned nation—more economically isolated than any country in modern history.
The EU's most recent package, which was announced in July, targeted Russia's energy revenues, banking sector, military industrial base, and tightened loopholes for sanctions evasion.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Amanda Macias.
{{#rendered}}German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Russia needs to agree to a ceasefire before peace negotiations can move forward.
During a meeting of European leaders, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Voldodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz directly challenged Trump's insistence that a ceasefire was not necessary before a formal peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is approved.
"I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire," Merz said.
"So let's work on that and let's try to put pressure on Russia because the credibility of these efforts we are undertaking today depends on at least a ceasefire from the beginning of the serious negotiations."
Trump was asked about the prospect of a pre-deal ceasefire earlier Monday. “I don’t think you’d need a ceasefire. If you look at the six deals that I settled this year, they were all at war – I didn’t do any ceasefires."
“I know that it might be good to have, but I can also understand, strategically, one country or the other wouldn’t want it. You have a ceasefire, and they rebuild and rebuild and rebuild and, you know, maybe they don’t want that.”
He added: “I like the concept of a ceasefire for one reason, because you’d stop killing people immediately, as opposed to in two weeks or one week, or whatever it takes. But we can work a deal, we’re working on a peace deal while they’re fighting.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed security guarantees for his country with President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy said they had a “good” conversation about the matter.
"The first one is security guarantees. And we are very happy with President [Trump], that all the leaders are here, and security in Ukraine depends on the United States" and European countries, he said.
"We will speak more about security guarantees," Zelenskyy added. "This is very important that United States gives such [a] strong signal, and is ready for security guarantees." He didn't elaborate on what those security guarantees would entail.
Trump said Europe would have to take most of the burden of securing Ukraine and that leaders would need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory.
"We're going to help them, and we're going to make it very secure," he said. “We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact. That means the war zone, the war line center.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as well as other European leaders, arrived at the White House on Monday to participate in the meeting between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump.
Stubb took office on March 1, 2024, and was elected to his first term as Finland's leader. He played golf with Trump in March where they discussed Ukraine.
Stubb has expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions to actually agree and abide by any ceasefire and his desire to negotiate an end to the war.
According to Politico, Stubb's presence at the talks could help prevent potential clashes between Trump and Zelensky such as those that occurred during the Ukrainian leader’s disastrous visit to the White House in February.
The aim would also be to reassure the US president that European leaders would be included in any potential follow-up discussions, it said.
Politico referred to Stubb as "one of Trump’s favorite interlocutors."
Despite policy differences regarding the Ukraine war, for instance, the two presidents apparently bonded during Stubb’s extended golfing visit to Trump’s Florida resort in March, with the US leader gifting Stubb a golf set.
Stubb's remarks echoed previous concerns he has expressed in light of Finland's historical interaction with Russia:
"Some of the international media might wonder, you know, why is the president of Finland here? I think the reason is probably that we might come from a small country, but we have a long border with Russia over 800 miles. And we, of course, have our own historical experience with Russia...And if I look at the silver lining of where we stand right now, we found a solution in 1944, and I'm sure that we'll be able to find a solution in 2025 to end Russia's war of aggression."
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump is urging Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia and to drop its aspirations to join NATO.
In a Sunday post on Truth Social, Trump outlined how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could end the war with Russia.
“President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight,” Tump wrote. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"
Russia has long been opposed to Ukraine becoming a member of NATO, the military alliance of countries formed in 1949 to counter the threat of expansion by the Soviet Union.
President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine as part of a NATO-like security guarantee to ensure Russia does not invade again once a peace deal is settled.
"We will give them very good protection, very good security. That's part of it," Trump said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Asked specifically whether that meant American boots on the ground, Trump said: “I’ll let you know on that later today.”“We're meeting with seven great leaders of great countries also, and we'll be talking about that,” Trump said, referring to the European leaders who he met with after the Zelenskyy meeting.
“They'll all be involved, but there'll be a lot of help when it comes to security, there's going to be a lot of help, it's going to be good. They are first line of defense, because they're there, they're Europe, but we're going to help them out also, we'll be involved.”
President Donald Trump said he plans to phone Russian President Vladimir Putin after his White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I just spoke to President Putin indirectly, and we’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today,” Trump says in the Oval Office.
Trump said all three leaders may have a trilateral meeting to discuss ending the war, but if not, “then the fighting continues.”
“But he’s he’s expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting,” Trump said.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump explained his reasoning for dropping his demand that Russia agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine on Monday.
Trump made the statement while sitting next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. He argued that negotiations over a ceasefire could get in the way of a larger peace deal.
"I don't think you need ceasefire. You know, if you look at the six deals that I settled this year, they were all at war. I didn't do any ceasefires. And I know that it might be good to have, but I can also understand strategically why, you know, one country or the other wouldn't want it. You have a ceasefire and they rebuild and rebuild and rebuild and, you know, maybe they don't want that," Trump said.
"I like the concept of a ceasefire for one reason, because you'd stop killing people immediately as opposed to in two weeks or one week or whatever it takes. But we can work a deal where we're working on a peace deal while they're fighting. They have to fight. I wish they could stop. I'd like them to stop, but strategically, that could be a disadvantage for one side or the other. But all of these deals I made without even the mention of the word ceasefire," he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived to the White House for his high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump wearing more formal attire than his typical relaxed wardrobe.
Zelenskyy was seen shaking Trump's hand while wearing all black, including a button-down black shirt and jacket.
Zelenskyy is back in Washington, D.C., Monday to meet with Trump following the U.S. president's historic meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in Alaska to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The Putin meeting did not yield a peace agreement, with Trump now urging Ukraine to accept a land swap deal with Russia, arguing it is the most efficient way to end the war.
The meeting Monday also includes European leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Zelenskyy has previously come under fire and questioning regarding his public attire, which has routinely included him sporting dark green T-shirts, sweatshirts and other relaxed military-style outfits, as opposed to suits.
Excerpt from an article by Fox News' Emma Colton
"Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit," one reporter asked Zelenskyy when he visited the White House in February. "Do you own a suit?"
Axios reported that the White House allegedly asked Ukrainian officials prior to the meeting if he would wear a suit to the meeting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House to engage in peace talks with President Donald Trump on Monday.
Zelensky is set to join a cohort of European heads of state who are also visiting the White House on Monday in solidarity with Ukraine. Trump has urged Zelenskyy to pursue a peace deal floated by Russian President Vladimir Putin that would see Ukraine cede some of its territory.
Zelenskyy has so far rejected such plans.
The Ukrainian leader wore an all-black outfit with a thick outer suit and tie.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump has selected several top U.S. officials to participate in his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.
The group includes Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Special Envoy Keith Kellogg.
The group is set to meet with Zelenskyy and several top leaders from Europe, including the heads of state for the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Finland. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be present.
Several European heads of state arrived at the White House on Monday ahead of their meeting with President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Among the group were U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friederich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb.
NATO general secretary Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also arrived to the White House.
The group is preparing to launch discussions over how to end the war in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump's foreign policy agenda is set to take center stage again this week, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visiting the White House on Monday as Washington continues efforts to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
The White House has yet to release details of the meeting but has acknowledged that key European allies will accompany Zelenskyy.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb all confirmed their plans to attend.
Over the weekend, Zelenskyy acknowledged his last White House visit — cut short by a shouting match with both Trump and Vice President JD Vance — and told reporters in Brussels he hopes Monday’s meeting "will be productive" rather than a repeat of February’s encounter.
The upcoming meeting comes on the heels of Trump's summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday, where the U.S. leader shifted from demanding a ceasefire to calling for a final peace deal. Trump discussed some of the details of his meeting with Putin during a phone call with Zelenskyy from Air Force One.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Amanda Macias
{{#rendered}}
President Donald Trump said Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could end the war with Russia "almost immediately" if he wanted.
Trump's comments come ahead of his scheduled meeting with Zelenskyy and several European leaders in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
"President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!"
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb confirmed Sunday they would attend the meeting in Washington.
Their joint presence underscores Europe’s push to present a united front as Russia’s war drags on.
Zelenskyy met von der Leyen in Brussels ahead of the Trump talks to set priorities for the White House meeting, focusing on long-term military aid, Ukraine’s EU ambitions, and bolstering transatlantic solidarity against Russian aggression.
Von der Leyen said at a joint press conference she was glad to join Zelenskyy and other leaders in Washington on Monday.
Trump called it a "great honor."
Fox News' Amanda Macias contributed to this report
President Donald Trump was tight-lipped after his high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday but offered some key insight into the meeting to Fox News’ Sean Hannity in an exclusive interview.
Here are the key takeaways from Trump’s highly anticipated meeting with the Russian leader as shared with Hannity.
1. ‘No deal until there’s a deal’
Trump told Hannity that "as far as I’m concerned, there’s no deal until there’s a deal." He noted, however, that "we did make a lot of progress."
2. Putin ‘wants to see it done’
The president noted to Hannity that he believes Putin is not only open to peace but that he "wants to see it done."
3. Not prepared to share what the sticking point was
Pressed by Hannity to share what the "one big issue you don’t agree on" that kept the leaders from walking away with a ceasefire deal, Trump declined to share. He said, "No, I’d rather not. I guess somebody’s going to go public with it, they’ll figure it out, but no, I don’t want to do that, I want to see if we can get it done."
4. Up to Zelenskyy and Europe
After taking such a major step as to physically meet with the Russian president, Trump said it is now "up to [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy to get it done and maybe the European nations, they have to get involved a little bit."
5. Trump open to trilateral meeting
The president said he would be open to attending a trilateral meeting with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, saying, "If they’d like, I’ll be at that meeting. They’re going to set up a meeting now between President Zelenskyy and President Putin and myself, I guess, not that I want to be there, but I want to get it done."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Peter Pinedo
{{#rendered}}World-renowned hostage negotiator Chris Voss spoke with The New York Times’ David Marchese in a Saturday podcast interview, where he discussed how President Donald Trump demonstrates empathy.
Voss, a former longtime hostage negotiator for the FBI, was asked by Marchese whether he believes Trump and his administration "demonstrate empathy."
"I think he has a highly evolved understanding of how other people see things," he replied.
Marchese followed up on the hostage negotiator's response, asking, "What makes you say that?"
According to Voss, Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear sites rather than taking out the nation's leader revealed to the hostage negotiator the president’s empathetic side.
"The reporting was that Israel was thinking about trying to take out the Iranian leader and that Trump was against that. Now, my view is that’s smart for a number of reasons. First of all, if you agree to take out the head of a country, you’re declaring there’s open season and fair is fair, which means they’re free to come after you," he explained. "To me, there’s a sense of empathy there. Not necessarily agreeing, not being on their side, but if empathy is understanding how somebody sees it, I think he has a highly evolved sense of it."
Fox News' Bret Baier will sit down for an exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday night following his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Trump alongside several top European leaders, including U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friederich Merz and others.
Trump has urged Zelenskyy publicly to pursue a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would see Ukraine lose some of its territory. Zelenskyy has so far rebuffed the calls.
EXCLUSIVE: First Lady Melania Trump wrote a "peace letter" to Russian President Vladimir Putin telling him "it is time" to protect children and future generations around the globe, Fox News Digital has learned.
Fox News Digital exclusively obtained the "peace letter" the first lady penned to Putin, which President Trump hand-delivered to the Russian leader before their summit in Alaska, Fox News Digital has learned.
Immediately upon receiving the letter, Putin read it as the American and Russian delegations looked on.
"Dear President Putin," the first lady’s letter begins. "Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation’s rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger."
"As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation’s hope," the letter continued. "As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few."
"Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all—so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded," read the letter. "A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation’s descendants begin their lives with a purity—an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology."
The first lady continued that "in today’s world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them—a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future."
"Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter," the first lady wrote. "In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone—you serve humanity itself."
"Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today," she wrote. "It is time."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Brooke Singman
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, and their negotiations have set the stage for what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can expect from his meeting at the White House on Monday.
Trump went into his meeting with Putin demanding a ceasefire, but changed his tune after the meeting. He is now calling for a larger peace deal to end the war entirely, with Putin having offered peace if Ukraine will agree to cede some of its territory.
Trump has spent the weekend urging Ukraine to accept such a deal saying the U.S. would also give Ukraine security assurances moving forward. But Zelenskyy and the European allies who are set to join him at the White House have remained quiet.
The heads of state of the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Finland are all set to visit the White House alongside Zelenskyy on Monday. NATO general secretary Mark Rutte and `European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also set to join.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will likely opt for a more formal look when he meets with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday, according to a designer who has previously collaborated with the European leader.
"Tomorrow he most likely will not appear in a polo," Ukrainian designer Elvira Gasanova told Fox News Digital. "… I think he will choose a black military suit or a military-style shirt with trousers — perhaps a jacket."
Having previously come under fire for his informal attire, Zelenskyy is likely to choose "a more serious look — though less symbolic," according to Gasanova.
"After the recent ‘no suit’ drama, he will likely approach this question differently," she said.
Zelenskyy has at times faced criticism for his informal wardrobe, including during his tense February visit to the Oval Office. That meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance escalated into a heated exchange between the three leaders over what "cards" Ukraine holds and whether Zelenskyy has expressed sufficient gratitude to the United States.
"Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit," one reporter asked Zelenskyy at the time. "… Do you own a suit?"
Unlike many politicians, the Ukrainian president does not have personal stylists, according to Gasanova, who is the founder of Ukrainian fashion brands GASANOVA and DAMIRLI.
Gasanova said she has previously designed clothing items for both Zelenskyy and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Sophia Compton
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed on Sunday that Kyiv will not offer territorial concessions to Moscow, underscoring his hard line as the Kremlin's three-and-a-half-year conflict drags on.
"The constitution of Ukraine makes it impossible to give up territory or trade land," Zelenskyy said during a press conference at the European Commission on Sunday.
He added that Russia for the past decade has repeatedly tried and failed to seize the entirety of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. The area, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, is an industrial hub built on coal and steel. In short, losing Donbas would strip Ukraine of a key economic lifeline and hand Moscow new leverage over Kyiv.
"Since the territorial issue is so important, it should be discussed only by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at the trilateral [talks with] Ukraine, United States, Russia," Zelenskyy said, adding that Moscow has not acknowledged hosting a joint meeting with Kyiv and Washington.
{{#rendered}}Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions, said Moscow showed new readiness for peace at the Alaska summit, calling Putin’s commitments “robust” concessions.
“We agreed on much more robust security guarantees,” Witkoff told Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday. “The Russians agreed on enshrining legislative language that they would attest to not attempting to take any more land from Ukraine after a peace deal, where they would attest to not violating any European borders.”
Witkoff, who attended the talks, called the outcome “a win,” noting Trump spoke directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders after the summit. He explained that Trump shifted focus from an immediate ceasefire to pursuing a broader peace agreement.
European leaders later praised Trump’s efforts to “stop the killing in Ukraine” and push for a lasting settlement. Putin described the Alaska discussions as “very frank,” saying Russia seeks to resolve the conflict “by peaceful means.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence urged President Donald Trump to act swiftly against Russia, saying tougher sanctions are needed alongside negotiations.
On CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, Pence said Trump often uses a “velvet glove” approach with dictators, but “the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately.” He pressed Trump to call Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to move forward on a secondary sanctions bill that enjoys broad support.
“The combination of engagement, but also making it clear to Putin that we are prepared to take actions that would literally break his economy even while we redouble our commitment to the security of Ukraine,” Pence said.
While crediting Trump for pursuing peace, Pence warned against delays. “We can’t allow Vladimir to run out the clock on the war… the sanctions ought to be on the president’s desk.”
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News’ Danielle Wallace
{{#rendered}}Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads into a high-stakes White House meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, as Washington considers security guarantees for Kyiv and debate intensifies over whether land concessions to Russia could end the war.
Zelenskyy will be flanked by key European allies at the White House, a diplomatic overture that signals Europe’s determination to rally behind Ukraine.
Over the weekend, the Ukrainian leader acknowledged his last White House visit – cut short by a shouting match between Trump and Vice President JD Vance – and told reporters in Brussels he hopes Monday’s meeting "will be productive" rather than a repeat of February’s encounter.
The upcoming meeting comes on the heels of Trump's summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Anchorage on Friday, where the U.S. leader shifted from demanding a ceasefire to calling for a final peace deal.
Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Putin agreed to allow the U.S. to provide Ukraine "robust security guarantees."
This is an excerpt from an article written by Fox News' Amanda Macias.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected claims that President Donald Trump is backing Vladimir Putin’s demand for Russia to take control of Ukraine’s Donbas. He stressed that only Kyiv can decide its territorial future.
“These are things that Zelenskyy is going to have to decide on. These are things that the Ukrainian side is going to have to agree to,” Rubio told Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures."
Rubio described Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin as producing “progress,” but warned talks could unravel if Washington imposes further sanctions. “The minute you put additional sanctions on him [Putin]… peace talks are no longer possible,” he said.
He argued that Trump is the only leader capable of brokering a settlement, while European partners must provide security guarantees. Rubio acknowledged negotiations remain difficult. “If one side gets everything they want, that’s not a peace deal. It’s called surrender.”
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News’ Taylor Penley
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, the first time he has done so since the pair had a heated argument in the Oval Office in February.
The White House meeting grew tense in its final approximate 10 minutes, after Vice President JD Vance said that peace would be reached between Russia and Ukraine through U.S. diplomacy efforts.
"Mr. President, with respect, I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media," Vance told Zelenskyy. "Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for bringing it, to bring it into this country."
"Have you've ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?" Zelenskyy shot back.
"I've actually watched and seen the stories and I know that what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour," Vance continued. "Mr. President, do you disagree that you've had problems bringing people into your military? And do you think that it's respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to, trying to prevent the destruction of your country?"
Zelenskyy continued that under war, "everybody has problems, even you," and that the U.S. would feel the war "in the future."
"You're gambling with the lives of millions of people," Trump added at another point during the exchange. "You're gambling with World War III. You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country."
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump is hosting an unprecedented lineup of top European leaders at the White House on Monday as they discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will of course be present, but the leaders of Europe's most powerful countries will be joining him. U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will be in attendance, as well as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb are also scheduled to attend the White House meetings, as well as NATO general secretary Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Trump remarked that it is a "great honor" for the U.S. to host so many prominent world leaders.
Their joint presence underscores Europe’s determination to present a united front as the West seeks to end Russia’s war without compromising Ukraine’s security or sovereignty.
Before departing for Washington, Zelenskyy met with von der Leyen at the European Commission in Brussels to discuss priorities for the White House talks, focusing on long-term military aid, Ukraine’s ambitions to join the EU, and bolstering transatlantic security.
"We will continue to support you for as long as it takes," von der Leyen said, adding that the EU backs a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
Fox News' Amanda Macias contributed to this report
The White House has yet to release details of the meeting set for Monday, August 18, but has acknowledged that key European allies will accompany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb all confirmed their plans to attend.
Over the weekend, Zelenskyy acknowledged his last White House visit — cut short by a shouting match with both Trump and Vice President JD Vance — and told reporters in Brussels he hopes Monday’s meeting "will be productive" rather than a repeat of February’s encounter.
Following the explosive geopolitical meeting earlier this year, several world leaders showed their support for Zelenskyy including Macron who said, "There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a victim: Ukraine."
At the time, Merz said, "Dear Volodymyr Zelenskyy, we stand with Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war."
Meloni did not release a public statement in the days following the fallout.
Fox News' Amanda Macias, Gabriele Regalbuto contributed reporting.
Coverage for this event has ended.