Trump Meets Zelenskyy as Russia Strikes; Is Peace Still Possible?

As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year with no ceasefire in sight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump held high-stakes talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

According to online media reports, their 50-minute meeting centered on ramping up military support for Kyiv, increasing sanctions on Russia, and pushing for what Zelenskyy called a “real peace.”

The summit unfolded under the shadow of fresh bloodshed: Russian missile strikes on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed at least 17 people and wounded over 200 others, Ukrainian authorities said.

Entire city blocks were left in ruins, and officials warned that the toll could rise as rescue efforts continue.

Speaking after the bilateral meeting, Zelenskyy said he and Trump discussed how to “protect our people” and secure peace that isn’t just symbolic but grounded in justice and deterrence.

“The Russians once again openly and cynically declared they are ‘not in the mood’ for a ceasefire,” he said.

“This means the pressure the world is applying isn’t hurting them enough yet.”

This was the leaders’ first substantial engagement since Trump returned to office.

A prior attempt to meet earlier this month in Canada was derailed when Trump left the G7 summit early amid the spiraling Israel-Iran conflict.

This led to U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Trump, in a news conference concluding his participation at the NATO summit, acknowledged the mounting stakes.

He hinted at broader Russian ambitions, stating, “It’s very possible Putin has territorial ambitions beyond Ukraine.”

Trump also confirmed plans to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon” about ending the war.

But the road to peace remains steep and uncertain.

NATO Sounds the Alarm

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte did not mince words in his address to member states.

“Our military edge is being aggressively challenged by a rearming Russia, backed by Chinese tech and supplied by Iran and North Korea,” he warned.

Rutte, a veteran Dutch politician and staunch transatlanticist, made clear that NATO views Russia not just as a regional threat but a global destabilizer.

“I don’t trust the guy,” he said flatly when asked about Putin, adding that the Russian president would “not be pleased” with NATO’s summit outcomes.

Key among those outcomes is NATO’s decision to raise its collective defense spending target to 5% of GDP by 2035.

It is supposedly a move driven by European anxiety over Russian aggression, and a longstanding demand from Trump for allies to shoulder more of the burden.

Putin Stays Home as ICC Warrant Looms

As world leaders convened in Europe, one man was notably absent from another major gathering.

The Kremlin announced that Putin will not attend next week’s BRICS summit in Brazil.

This, they say, is due to an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The warrant accuses him of war crimes, specifically the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Although Moscow denies all allegations and does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction, Putin’s movements have been severely limited.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the risk of arrest in ICC-member states continues to shape the Russian leader’s travel plans.

Putin’s decision reflects his growing diplomatic isolation—even as he courts partnerships with countries like China, North Korea, and Iran.

His most recent international visit, to Mongolia last year, went uninterrupted, despite Mongolia’s technical obligations under the ICC treaty.

Diplomacy Stalls, War Grinds On

Meanwhile, hopes for U.S.–Russia diplomatic progress appear slim.

The Kremlin said Wednesday that Washington remains unwilling to remove restrictions on embassy operations, a symbolic signal that even small gestures of détente remain frozen.

On the battlefield, Russian forces claim they’ve captured the village of Dyliivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, a symbolic gain in one of the war’s oldest flashpoints.

In Russia, military officials reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight, particularly in the border region of Voronezh.

And in Ukraine, the death toll continues to rise.

The attack on Dnipro, one of the worst in months, has underscored the stakes of Zelenskyy’s appeal for more advanced weapons and tighter sanctions on Moscow.

For now, “real peace” remains elusive, and the war continues to exact a punishing toll—on cities, soldiers, and civilians alike.

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