Trump and Zelensky Appear to Disagree on Who Can End Ukraine War Ahead of High-Stakes Oval Office Meeting

(Evan Vucci/AP photo/X and Truth Social screenshots)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington over the weekend, offering gratitude to President Donald Trump ahead of a high-stakes Oval Office meeting — but the leaders appear to disagree on who can end Ukraine’s war with Russia.

Zelensky opened up late in a long X post Sunday night, thanking Trump for the invitation and expressing desire to end the years-long conflict.

“I have already arrived in Washington, tomorrow I am meeting with President Trump,” Zelensky posted on X Sunday night. “Tomorrow we are also speaking with European leaders. I am grateful to @POTUS for the invitation. We all share a strong desire to end this war quickly and reliably.”

Zelensky went on to say that “Russia must end this war, which it itself started” — a direct contrast to remarks by Trump about an hour earlier, in which Trump said: “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.”

(Truth Social screenshot)

Trump will meet with Zelensky on Monday afternoon. They will be joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO military alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The bilateral meeting is slated to begin at 1:15 p.m.

The last time Zelensky was in the Oval Office, it did not go well, with Trump accusing Zelensky of gambling with “World War III” and Vice President JD Vance attacking Zelensky’s choice of attire.