European Leaders Meet Trump and Zelensky on Ukraine Issue

Washington, D.C. — European leaders held a high-level meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The encounter came months after U.S. Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Zelensky in February, asking whether he had “ever said thank you” for the extensive American support provided to Kyiv.

On Monday, Zelensky delivered that gratitude — eight times, in fact.

In his opening remarks at the Oval Office, the Ukrainian leader repeatedly thanked President Trump.

“Thank you so much, Mr. President. If I may, first of all, thank you for your attention. Thank you very much for your efforts — your personal efforts to stop the killings and stop this war. Thank you,” Zelensky said.

He extended his appreciation to the U.S. First Lady as well, noting her letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding abducted Ukrainian children.

“Using this opportunity, my thanks to your wife,” he added.

Zelensky also thanked European allies for supporting the meeting format: “And thanks to all our partners, the UK, France, Germany — all who are around Ukraine supporting us. Thank you very much for your invitation.”

A review of the transcript revealed that Zelensky offered three more thank-yous while responding to reporters’ questions, though not all were directed at Trump. The meeting mirrored a similar Oval Office gathering six months earlier, which had ended in tense exchanges between the two leaders.

As in February, Zelensky sat to Trump’s right. Vice President JD Vance was seated on Trump’s left, flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.