Trump, Zelensky meet after Alaska summit with Putin.

US President Donald Trump on Monday signaled optimism about a possible peace deal between Ukraine and Russia as he welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House for high-stakes talks.

CBI News reports that the meeting, attended by several top European leaders, came just days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and marked the first direct encounter between Trump and Zelensky since their heated Oval Office clash in February.

Despite ongoing disagreements over concessions Trump has urged Kyiv to make most notably on Crimea and NATO membership the US leader struck an upbeat tone.

“I think if everything works out well today we’ll have a trilat, and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that,” Trump said while sitting alongside Zelensky in the Oval Office.

He added that he would be speaking to Putin later Monday and hoped to arrange a three-way meeting with the Kremlin leader and Zelensky.

Zelensky, who was accompanied by leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission and NATO, thanked Trump for his efforts.

“Thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war,” Zelensky said.

The meeting carried a calmer tone compared to February, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated Zelensky for what they called a lack of “gratitude” for US support.

This time, Trump even complimented the Ukrainian leader on his trademark military-style jacket.

“I love it,” Trump said as the two men shook hands.

Still, Kyiv and its allies remain wary that Trump is drifting closer to Moscow’s position following his Alaska talks with Putin.

Trump has repeatedly stated that Ukraine should abandon its NATO ambitions and accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

In Washington, Zelensky emphasized the need for Western security guarantees and echoed Trump’s language.

“President Trump has that strength. We have to do everything right to make peace happen,” he told reporters, describing the talks as “very serious.”

CBI News reports that air raid sirens sounded over Kyiv on Monday, and Russian strikes overnight killed at least seven people, underscoring the war’s ongoing toll even as peace discussions gained momentum.

Trump, 79, said the US would be “involved” in Ukraine’s future security arrangements but declined to clarify whether that could include American troops.

On Sunday, he argued that Zelensky could end the war “almost immediately, if he wants to,” insisting there was “no getting back” Crimea and “NO GOING INTO NATO.”

On Monday, he reiterated that a ceasefire was not necessary for negotiations to move forward.