Zelenskyy meets Trump in The Hague ahead of NATO Summit: Details

The start of the meeting between the leaders was reported by Suspilne at 03:59 PM Kyiv time.

As of 04:10 PM, a number of media outlets reported that the meeting had begun. Ukrainian Presidential Press Secretary Serhii Nikiforov also confirmed that the meeting between the leaders had begun. No details or broadcasts are available at this time.

Updated at 04:45 PM

According to Suspilne, the meeting between the presidents lasted almost 50 minutes and has already ended. It is also reported that the leaders did not speak to the press, although such a meeting was planned.

Updated at 04:55 PM

President Zelensky called the meeting with Trump long and meaningful. According to him, the leaders “covered all the really important issues.”

"We talked about how to achieve a ceasefire and real peace. We talked about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and willingness to help bring peace closer. Details to follow," he wrote.

Updated at 05:30 PM

At a press conference following the NATO summit, the US president stated that he did not discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine during his meeting with Zelenskyy.

"I just wanted to know how he was doing. He's very nice, actually. We had a little rough time, it could have been nicer. I think he'd like to see an end to it (Ed. - war). I do," Trump said.

He also suggested that Putin might have territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine, but is confident that the Kremlin leader would like to end his war against Ukraine. Trump also recalled how Putin recently offered him mediation in the Iran-Israel conflict.

"I responded, 'No, you can help me with Russia.' I think he is such a person... I think he got confused," the American leader emphasized.

Trump also stated that the US will consider supplying Ukraine with missiles for Patriot air defense systems. It is also possible that more money for defense could be provided.

Topic of the Zelenskyy and Trump meeting

Before the meeting, both leaders stated they planned to hold it. In particular, before today’s start of the direct session of the NATO summit, Trump called Zelenskyy “a nice guy” and said that they would discuss Ukraine.

"He's got a little difficulty. Zelenskyy, he's a nice guy. I mean, I'm going to meet him today. I don’t know. I assume we are going to be discussing Ukraine. Yes. It seems most likely,” said the US President.

The head of the White House also said that he had repeatedly spoken with the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who offered help on the conflict between Iran and Israel, but Trump rejected it.

"Okay, I said, do me a favor. Help us on Russia, not on Iran. But he (Putin – ed.) was very nice. We are going to talk (with Zelenskyy – ed.) about that. We are going to talk. I think progress is being made," added Trump.

Why the leaders did not meet at the G7

Earlier, it was expected that Trump and Zelenskyy would meet at the G7 summit in Canada, which took place June 16–17. As the President of Ukraine said, he planned to discuss with his American counterpart the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine.

As Zelenskyy noted, it would not be about “new aid” from the United States, but about the procurement of weapons.

However, Trump decided to urgently cut short his participation in the G7 summit. The White House explained that the US President decided to leave earlier due to the situation in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, a few days before the G7, the US President spoke by phone with the Kremlin leader. The conversation was mainly focused on the Israel-Iran conflict, but also talked about the war in Ukraine, including prisoner exchanges and the continuation of the negotiation process.

Meeting at the Pope’s funeral

Zelenskyy’s and Trump’s negotiations in The Hague take place two months after their previous meeting.

The last time the presidents of Ukraine and the United States spoke was on April 26, 2025, in the Vatican at the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis.

The conversation lasted approximately 15 minutes. Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it “a good” and “very symbolic” conversation, and potentially historical, if joint results were achieved.

They discussed additional arms deliveries to Ukraine, including air defense, cessation of fire and achieving a lasting peace.

Photo: conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy in Vatican (GettyImages)

According to Donald Trump, his conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy was “wonderful” and “a moment of consolation.” He emphasized the difficult situation of Ukraine and said he was “disappointed” by Russian missile strikes.

After this conversation on his social network TruthSocial, the US President suggested that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is deceiving him and doesn’t want to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine. At the same time Trump said he will continue talking with Putin.

At that time the head of the White House said that his relations with the head of Ukraine “have never been bad,” and the altercation in the Oval Office in February was just a “disagreement.”

Dispute at the White House

On February 28, 2025, a scandalous meeting of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with US President Donald Trump took place in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

Zelenskyy arrived in the US on an official visit, the purpose of which was to discuss further support for Ukraine, including the conclusion of a framework agreement on Ukrainian mineral resources.

Trump personally met Zelenskyy at the doorstep, but the negotiations quickly turned into a tense dispute. The main reason for the conflict was negotiations with Russia regarding another ceasefire, as well as Trump’s statements that Zelenskyy was “not ready for peace.”

Photo: Argument in the Oval Office (Getty Images)

During the meeting, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for genuine security guarantees for Ukraine and the rejection of pressure on Kyiv to make concessions to Russia. US Vice President JD Vance also joined the dispute, accusing Zelenskyy of disrespect to the United States.

As a result of the conflict Zelenskyy prematurely left the White House, and the planned joint press conference was canceled. Trump on TruthSocial stated that Zelenskyy could return when he was “ready for peace.”

Previously, Ukraine and the US at the end of April signed a minerals deal that provides for the creation of a joint investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and at the beginning of May, the agreement was ratified by the Verkhovna Rada.