• Former President Donald Trump says he will only meet with Ukrainian and Russian leaders when a peace agreement is "final or in its final stages"
  • The stance follows a failed ceasefire proposal earlier this year that led to a temporary suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine
  • European allies are intensifying support for Kyiv amid concerns about wavering American commitment to Ukraine's defense

Former President Donald Trump has outlined specific conditions for engaging directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating he would only participate in such a meeting when a peace deal to end the Ukraine war is either finalized or approaching its final stages.

The declaration comes months after Trump and Zelenskyy met in the Oval Office earlier this year, where Trump pushed for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire with Russia as a precondition for continued American assistance. That proposal ultimately collapsed after Russia refused to approve the arrangement, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Following the failed agreement, the Trump administration briefly suspended intelligence and military aid to Ukraine, multiple sources confirmed. The assistance was resumed only after Zelenskyy agreed to a conditional ceasefire, though the ceasefire never materialized in practice.

"He's not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage," Trump said of Zelenskyy, accusing the Ukrainian leader of prolonging the conflict. The former president's approach marks what European diplomats describe as a "fundamental shift" in U.S. policy toward Ukraine, focusing on quickly brokering a settlement even at the risk of using aid suspension as leverage.

The stance has drawn mixed reactions internationally. A March 2025 YouGov poll found Americans divided, with 51% believing Trump was disrespectful toward Zelenskyy, while 32% felt the Ukrainian president was disrespectful toward Trump. Russian information channels have praised Trump's position, with some commentators arguing it gives Moscow diplomatic leverage.

Ukrainian officials have pushed back against ceasefire proposals without security guarantees. "A ceasefire without proper security arrangements would simply allow for further Russian occupation," Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated publicly last month. Deputy PM Oleksiy Kuleba echoed these concerns, warning that premature agreements could undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity.

European leaders have responded by intensifying their own support for Ukraine. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other EU officials continue to back Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, while acknowledging the shifting American approach. The UK recently provided a £2.26 billion loan to Ukraine, to be repaid from frozen Russian assets, as European nations seek to fill potential gaps in support.

Behind the scenes, French diplomacy played a crucial role in maintaining dialogue, with Paris persuading the Trump administration not to cancel Zelenskyy's recent visit to the United States, according to European officials briefed on the matter.

The immediate outlook remains uncertain, with the U.S. potentially adopting what insiders describe as a "conditional engagement" policy. If a peace framework emerges, Trump has indicated readiness to engage with both leaders, which could significantly impact future American military and diplomatic involvement in the conflict.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of the aid suspension. It occurred after the failed ceasefire proposal, not before.