Trump signals major European security pact after meeting Russian envoy at White House
The president said a grand agreement is forming while Ukrainian officials on the same premises did not receive a meeting with the commander-in-chief.
By Talia Bennett ·
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a major agreement regarding European security is currently in the works, following a private meeting with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House. The president stated that the potential deal could extend beyond Ukraine to encompass the entire continent. This declaration came as Trump’s own diplomatic team engaged in parallel talks in Brussels with Ukrainian and European counterparts.
Trump declined to provide specific details about the contents of the meeting with Dmitriev. He noted that Dmitriev was at the White House for an event hosted by First Lady Melania Trump. The gathering recognized a recent temporary ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky. Despite the presence of Ukrainian officials at the function, Trump said he did not meet with them and offered no immediate explanation for the omission. The White House did not provide further comment when asked about the missed opportunity for a direct discussion.
The diplomatic activity marks a shift in recent negotiations. During the final weeks of the midterm election campaign, Trump agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports. In that same period, the president publicly attributed the lack of progress in ending the war to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s refusal to make concessions. Now, with midterm elections concluded, the focus has returned to a broader framework for peace.
A timeline of recent events clarifies the current momentum. Russia and Ukraine established a six-day truce in Oleshky from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1. This pause in fighting represented the most substantial ceasefire since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. First Lady Melania Trump credited her direct negotiations with leaders from both nations for securing the agreement. She described her role as humanitarian, aiming to allow civilians to evacuate and humanitarian aid to reach the besieged area.
Jared Kushner, one of the U.S. envoys in Brussels, confirmed that talks with NATO and European allies were productive. He emphasized that the discussions centered on security guarantees for Ukraine and a new security structure for Europe. The United States is scheduled to hold three-way talks in Abu Dhabi with Ukraine and Russia next week. These will be the first trilateral peace discussions held since February.
The situation in Oleshky remains dire. The city, located in the Kherson region, has suffered from a lack of electricity, heat, and running water for months. An estimated 2,000 people remained in the city when the truce took effect. First Lady Melania Trump stated that nearly 800 residents were evacuated during the six-day window. She said she initiated the talks after learning of the crisis at a United Nations General Assembly event in September. Her team worked with Marc Beckman to define the terms of the ceasefire with Russian and Ukrainian leadership.
Ukrainian officials expressed gratitude for the first lady’s involvement. Davyd Arakhamia, head of the parliamentary faction for Zelenskyy’s party, told the first lady she performed an amazing job. He encouraged her to continue finding new missions to de-escalate the conflict. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, also spoke at the event. Zelenskyy noted in a speech in Spain last week that the silence in Oleshky proved that fighting stops when Russia decides it should stop. He said the truce saved hundreds of lives.
Next steps in the diplomatic process are already scheduled. The three-way talks in Abu Dhabi will occur next week. These meetings aim to build on the momentum of the Oleshky ceasefire and the discussions in Brussels. Trump’s statement suggests that the outcome of these negotiations may form the basis of a larger continental security arrangement.
