Zelensky leaves White House unscathed as he buys more time

The optics could not have been more totally different this time.

Unlike the shockingly ill-tempered earlier assembly in February, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared decided not to look confrontational – despite their remaining variations.

Zelensky wore a collared go well with (although not of the classical selection), and Trump complimented his apparel. The Ukrainian president also repeatedly said “thank you”, which must have happy his host, too.

At his opening look in the Oval Office, Zelensky spoke little – or perhaps he was not eager to, fearing that what he had to say was totally different from what Trump needed to hear.

Differences confirmed later, when the US and Ukrainian presidents appeared before journalists collectively with European leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron both said a ceasefire in Ukraine should be the next step, even though Trump had argued that it was not essential before a more everlasting answer is discovered.

Zelensky remained conspicuously quiet on the subject.

What we heard from the leaders suggests that their discussions behind closed doorways centered on security ensures for Ukraine and prospects for a assembly between Zelensky and Putin.

No particulars were revealed about what ensures were mentioned, or how being face-to-face in the same room with Putin will help finish the battle.

But following the day of talks, Zelensky described security ensures as a essential “starting point for ending war”.

At an earlier information convention outside the White House, he said security ensures could embrace a $90bn (£67bn) deal between Kyiv and Washington to purchase US weapons, including aviation systems, anti-missile systems and other weapons he declined to disclose.

Zelensky also said the US would buy Ukrainian drones, which would help enhance home manufacturing of the unmanned plane. Though no formal settlement has been reached, Zelensky said a deal could be labored out over the next 10 days.

The Ukranian chief, however, was more prepared to discuss about his potential assembly with Putin, telling reporters he was prepared to meet immediately with his Russian counterpart, and if Moscow agreed, Trump could be part of the negotiations. Putin has so far resisted a direct assembly with Zelensky.

“Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace,” he informed reporters, including that no date had been set.

One subject the leaders appeared reluctant to carry up before the media were potential territorial concessions by Ukraine.

Zelensky also talked about how he confirmed his US counterpart a map of Ukraine, stressing that Russia has managed to occupy less than 1% of the Ukrainian territory in the last 1,000 days. This was information to the White House, he said. And it helped swing Trump’s temper, apparently.

“I have been fighting with what is on that map,” Zelensky informed reporters, including that he pushed back on what the Oval Office map confirmed as Russian-captured territories.

“It isn’t possible to say this much territory has been taken over this time. These points are important.”

The Ukrainian chief appeared principally upbeat about his newest White House look, describing his assembly with Trump as “warm”. His optimism, however, appeared deliberate as he sought to keep away from a repeat of his last Oval Office go to and persuade his American hosts to embrace the European place on ending the battle.

But perhaps the key consequence of the journey was that it helped Ukraine to buy more time. The call that Trump had with Putin following his first assembly with the European leaders suggests that Russia has managed to do just the same.

Despite widespread fears, no disaster has occurred at the summits in Alaska and Washington – at least nothing from what has been made public.

The establishment stays.