Trump-Putin summit: Zelenskyy to travel to DC on Monday to meet with President Trump

Trump invited European leaders to join the meeting with the Ukrainian president.

Last Updated: August 17, 2025, 3:05 PM EDT

Following what was described as a “lengthy” phone call with President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will travel to Washington on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump. A White House official said Trump has invited European leaders to join the meeting on Monday afternoon.

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday and while Putin mentioned an "agreement" in the post-meeting news conference and Trump said "great progress" was made, there was no mention of a ceasefire.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Aug 16, 2025, 5:25 AM EDT

Trump says the best way forward is "to go directly to a Peace Agreement" without a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine

In a post on his social media platform, President Trump said that the best way to move forward and end the war between Ukraine and Russia is "to go directly to a Peace Agreement" without any form of a ceasefire.

"It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump touted that Friday's meeting in Alaska was successful and discussed his overnight phone call with President Zelenskyy and European allies.

In his interview with Bret Baier yesterday, Trump said he wouldn't be happy if he walked away from the summit without some form of a ceasefire deal.

"I'd like to see a ceasefire. I wouldn't be thrilled if I didn't get it. But everyone says you're not going to get the ceasefire, it'll take place on the second meeting. The second meeting is going to be very, but I'm not going to be happy with that. So, we'll see what happens. I'm going to be, I won't be happy if I walk away without some form of a ceasefire. Now, I say this, and I've said it from the beginning, this is really setting the table today," Trump said in Friday's interview.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Aug 16, 2025, 4:27 AM EDT

Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight amid Putin-Trump summit

Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with a ballistic missile and 85 drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said Saturday morning.

Ukraine’s air defense systems repelled 61 of the drones, while missile and drone strikes were recorded at 12 locations across the country, according to the air force.

Meanwhile, Russia’s air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

-ABC News' Yulia Drozd and Anna Sergeeva

Aug 16, 2025, 4:19 AM EDT

Zelenskyy to travel to DC on Monday to meet with President Trump

Following what was described as a “lengthy” phone call with President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has announced that he will be traveling to Washington, D.C. on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump.

On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He also stated that he had "a long, substantive conversation with President Trump, initially one-on-one, and then also with the participation of European leaders. In total, we spoke for more than an hour and a half, approximately one hour with President Trump.”

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

Aug 16, 2025, 3:01 AM EDT

Trump speaks to Zelenskyy, NATO leaders

President Donald Trump has been speaking with NATO leaders over the phone, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, ABC News has learned.

This follows what was described as a "lengthy" call with President Zelenskyy.

Trump has been working the phones for much of the six hour journey back to Washington, D.C., Leavitt said

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

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