Trump Claims “Big Progress” Made with Putin as Zelensky, European Leaders Head to Washington

Just days after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that “big progress” had been made with Russia. While no major agreements were announced at the summit, both leaders spoke positively about their interaction.

Earlier on Sunday, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Trump and Putin had agreed to what he described as “robust security guarantees” for Ukraine. “We agreed to robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing,” Witkoff said.

According to Reuters, the two leaders discussed a possible framework that would see Russia give up small portions of occupied Ukrainian territory in return for Ukraine ceding larger fortified areas in the east, effectively freezing the front lines.

Amid growing international concern, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Washington on Monday, joined by key European leaders, in a bid to push back against what appears to be increasing pressure from Trump for a swift peace deal with Russia.

Joining Zelensky will be French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also confirmed her attendance, saying she will join the meeting at Zelensky’s request.

The high-level gathering is seen as a critical moment for Ukraine, as it seeks to maintain Western support in the face of growing diplomatic momentum toward a negotiated settlement with Russia.