Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Monday, just days after Trump’s historic Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin — a meeting that could define the future of the war in Eastern Europe.

While Trump has been pressing for a direct peace agreement, Zelensky told reporters Sunday that Ukraine would not proceed with negotiations until a full ceasefire is in place. Speaking alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Zelensky said Moscow had presented “many demands” and emphasized Kyiv must be fully informed before moving forward, RT.com reported.

Trump, returning from Alaska aboard Air Force One, spoke with Zelensky and European leaders to lay the groundwork for talks. “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 early Saturday.

The president confirmed Zelensky’s Oval Office visit for Monday and suggested a follow-up meeting could soon include Putin. “President Zelenskyy will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin,” he added.

Zelensky signaled cautious optimism on X: “President Trump informed about his meeting with the Russian leader and the main points of their discussion. It is important that America’s strength has an impact on the development of the situation. 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.”

A White House official told NewsNation that European leaders will also attend the Washington meeting, underscoring Trump’s insistence on a broad, multilateral approach.

Trump and Putin spent more than three hours in Alaska Friday discussing a potential settlement. While both leaders said progress was made, no deal was finalized. The president noted the Alaska summit was intended to “set the table” for a broader resolution that includes Ukraine directly.

The Zelensky meeting will be his first White House visit since a tense Oval Office exchange earlier this year in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized him for failing to show gratitude for U.S. support. In recent weeks, Trump has grown increasingly vocal in condemning Putin’s missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, warning of “severe consequences” if Moscow refuses to strike a deal — even as he emphasized that he and Putin maintain a “fantastic relationship.”

In a symbolic moment Friday, Putin switched to English to invite Trump to Moscow for the next round of negotiations. “Next time in Moscow,” Putin said, smiling across the table.

“That’s an interesting one,” Trump replied. “I’ll get a little heat for that one. But I can see it possibly happening.”

Putin praised Trump’s approach as “constructive” and “results-oriented,” hinting that the Alaska talks could “start us on the path towards a resolution in Ukraine.” He reiterated that the war never would have broken out if Trump had been president at the time of Russia’s invasion.

As Zelensky heads to Washington, the world’s eyes now turn to the Oval Office — where President Trump will test whether his unique brand of diplomacy can succeed where global bureaucrats have failed.