Trump Meets Zelenskyy in Ankara on Sidelines of NATO Leaders Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO Leaders Summit in Ankara this week, with White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirming the meeting during a teleconference briefing.

The White House schedule places Trump in Ankara for Tuesday’s official welcome ceremony from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, followed by a NATO leaders’ dinner and Wednesday’s plenary session and family photograph, before a press conference after his bilateral meetings.

Actualités Ukrinform

Senior U.S. officials told Anadolu Agency that diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a close will be the central focus of Trump’s sit-down with Zelenskyy, as one official described the front as "largely frozen in recent months".

The U.S. side said continued hostilities have caused "heavy casualties and destruction for both sides," while emphasizing that contacts with both Russia and Ukraine remain ongoing and that Trump is playing an active mediating role.

The Türkiye Today report also said Trump is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Tuesday and return to Washington aboard the new Air Force One, a Boeing 747, after the summit.

A senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said the president’s meeting with Zelenskyy is intended to discuss "how we can end the war," and added that Trump would "follow up" with Russian President Vladimir Putin afterward.

In a separate account, the White House said Trump will meet Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirming the meetings in a call with reporters.

Al Jazeera

The Anadolu Ajansı report said Washington expects all allies to "demonstrate meaningful upward trajectories" in defense spending for fairer burden sharing, while also describing maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz as a subject expected to come up at the summit.

The same Anadolu Ajansı briefing quoted a senior U.S. official saying, "I certainly believe that the Strait of Hormuz and the protection of the maritime traffic going through there is going to be a subject that comes up," tying the alliance agenda to shipping security.

In the RBC-Ukraine report, a senior U.S. official said the presidents would discuss ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, stating, "Trump will certainly meet with President Zelenskyy to discuss how the war can be brought to an end."

The France 24 report framed negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine as remaining at an impasse, with Moscow demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Ukraine's Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv rejects.

France 24 also reported that Zelensky said Kyiv and Moscow’s troops were still battling for the key eastern town of Kostyantynivka, with Zelensky stating, "Fighting is also continuing for Kostyantynivka."

In the Türkiye Today account of the Ankara agenda, U.S. officials said the summit would take up Iran-related regional security risks and the protection of maritime trade routes, alongside defense spending and burden-sharing.

The Anadolu Ajansı report said the summit would feature major defense industry announcements involving allied cooperation, adding that Washington expects allies to contribute to maritime security but that "Many of them don't have the necessary ships or assets to contribute to a meaningful maritime effort."

Across the coverage, the common thread is that Trump’s diplomacy with Zelenskyy is paired with continued engagement with Russia, as the Türkiye Today report said contacts with both Russia and Ukraine remain ongoing and that Trump is playing an active mediating role.