Zelensky gives press briefing outside White House, says he and Trump had ‘best’ meeting yet
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a press briefing outside the White House on Monday even following his meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders.
Calling this round of talks his and Trump’s “best meeting” yet, Zelensky said the two leaders discussed many issues in detail, including the return of Ukrainian children deported by Russia and future security guarantees.
“The U.S. is giving a clear signal that it will be a participant in security guarantees for Ukraine,” he told reporters.
The Ukrainian leader also said Trump proposed holding a meeting between himself, Zelensky, and Putin “as soon as possible.” He added that Russia “proposed first having a bilateral meeting [between Putin and Zelensky], then a trilateral one.”
Zelensky said he’s “ready” to meet with Putin. “I consider this to be a good outcome [of Monday’s meeting],” he said.
He also said he believed the bilateral meeting should happen without preconditions. “If we start demanding a preliminary ceasefire, Russia will start making hundreds of other demands,” Zelensky said.
