Trump Invites Zelenskyy to Return to the White House
Trump’s announcement that Zelenskyy is invited back to the White House comes after progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with Kyiv agreeing to a cease-fire.
President Donald Trump officially stated on Tuesday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcome to visit the White House again, following a tense meeting on Feb. 28 where the two leaders disagreed on Trump’s cease-fire proposal to end the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on March 11, Trump was asked if Zelenskyy is invited back to the White House, to which he nodded and replied, “Sure.”
Tensions between the two leaders were evident during the Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting, where Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept a cease-fire and initiate direct talks with Moscow, a proposal Zelenskyy resisted by questioning Putin’s trustworthiness.
After the meeting, Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the conflict by misusing U.S. military aid instead of seeking a diplomatic resolution. Trump then halted intelligence sharing and military support to Ukraine, increasing pressure on Kyiv to accept a cease-fire and encouraging European allies to provide more assistance.
According to a joint statement from the U.S. State Department, both parties agreed to establish negotiation teams and begin discussions to secure a lasting peace that guarantees Ukraine’s future security. The U.S. pledged to propose cease-fire plans to Russia, while Ukraine stressed the importance of European participation in the process.
Trump and Zelenskyy also agreed to finalize the anticipated economic collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine, focusing on joint development of Ukraine’s crucial mineral resources to ensure long-term prosperity and security, as stated in the joint release.
Speaking in Jeddah, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the U.S. would present the cease-fire offer to Moscow. “We’ll now offer this proposal to the Russians, and we hope for a positive response, a ‘yes’ to peace. The ball is in their court now,” Rubio remarked.
“If they reject it, then we’ll understand the obstacle to peace,” Rubio added. “But the president’s message is clear – he wants an end to the violence, the conflict, and the suffering.”
Trump expressed hope that the Russia-Ukraine cease-fire agreement could be solidified “in the coming days.”
“We have an important meeting with Russia tomorrow, and I anticipate productive discussions,” Trump stated.
The president emphasized that if Russia declines the cease-fire, it would mean continued fighting and “many lives lost.”