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Trump, Zelenskyy open to Putin talks as Europeans push for a ceasefire: Live updates
This is CNBC’s live coverage of President Donald Trump’s meetings with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Aug. 18, 2025.
What you need to know
- President Donald Trump is meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.
- Trump says negotiations to obtain peace in the years-long war prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can take place while both countries are still fighting, dropping his earlier calls for a ceasefire.
- Trump plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin later today.
- Trump has suggested that Ukraine formally cede its Crimea region to Russia to achieve peace.
CNBC reporters are covering the summit live, on air and online from our bureaus in Washington; New York; London; Singapore; San Francisco; and Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Germany’s Merz: ‘Can’t imagine’ next meeting occurs ‘without a ceasefire’
Merz says that all of the leaders at the meeting would like to see a ceasefire in Ukraine — but Trump seems to quibble with the German chancellor’s assertion.
“The way is open for complicated negotiations. And to be honest, we all would like to see a ceasefire,” Merz says.
“The latest from the next meeting on, I can’t imagine that the next meeting would [take] place without a ceasefire, so let’s work on that, and let’s try to put pressure on Russia,” he says.
Trump responds by suggesting Zelenskyy and Putin will speak “and we’ll see how that works out.”
He then adds: “In the six wars that I have settled, I haven’t had a ceasefire ... So if we can do the ceasefire, great, and if we don’t do a ceasefire, because many other points were given to us, many, many points were given to us, great points.”
Russia is opposed to a temporary ceasefire, and Trump took the same view after his recent summit with Putin in Alaska.
— Kevin Breuninger
Trump touts ‘significant step’ that Russia accepted Ukraine security guarantees
Trump says that in a “very significant step,” Putin agreed that Russia “would accept security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Trump also says that the security guarantees will be a topic of discussion at the multilateral.
“I’m optimistic that collectively we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine,” Trump says.
Zelenskyy also says that they will “speak more about security guarantees.”
— Erin Doherty
Trump says parties ‘need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory’
Trump said, “We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact” between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump has suggested in the past that Ukraine would have to formally cede territory to Russia, including the Crimea region.
- Dan Mangan
Trump’s multilateral with European leaders begins ahead of schedule
Trump’s multilateral with Zelenskyy and leaders of Europe is now underway, a few minutes ahead of schedule.
Trump, who opens by saying that “we’ve had a very successful day thus far,” began the meeting introducing the European leaders.
“We’re really honored that you guys came over,” Trump says.
— Erin Doherty
Trump to take photo with European leaders ahead of multilateral
Trump is poised to soon take a photo with the European leaders, according to the White House schedule, which this morning said it would take place around 2:30pm ET.
At roughly 3pm ET, Trump is set to participate in a multilateral meeting with the European leaders in the East Room of the White House.
Some of the European leaders have indicated that they will make a statement after their meeting with Trump.
— Erin Doherty
What Zelenskyy wants for security guarantees: ‘Everything’
“Everything,” Zelenskyy says when asked by a reporter in the Oval Office what security guarantees he’s looking for from Trump to reach a deal.
“It includes two parts,” he continues.
“It’s a lot about weapon and people and training missions and intelligence,” he says alongside Trump.
“And second, we will discuss with our partners. It depends on the big countries, on the United States, on a lot of our friends.”
— Erin Doherty
Vance stays out of it
Vice President JD Vance stayed silent while Trump and Zelenskyy took questions from the press — a noticeable retreat from his aggressive posture the last time the three men were in the Oval Office.
— Kevin Breuninger
Trump says he’ll call Putin right after today’s meetings
Trump says he will call Putin directly following his meetings with Zelenskyy and other European leaders.
“I just spoke to President Putin indirectly, and we’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today,” Trump says in the Oval Office.
If that leads to a trilateral meeting between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S., then “there’s a good chance of maybe ending” the war, Trump says.
If not, “then the fighting continues.”
“But he’s he’s expecting my call when we’re finished with this meeting,” Trump says.
— Kevin Breuninger
Trump says peace deal negotiations can take place “while they’re fighting”
Trump reiterates that he doesn’t think there should be a ceasefire in the ongoing war.
“We can work a deal where we’re working on a peace deal while they’re fighting,” Trump says from the Oval Office.
“They have to fight, I wish they could stop, I’d like them to stop, but strategically that would be a disadvantage for one side or the other,” he continues.
Trump for weeks in the lead-up to his summit with Putin expressed the need for an urgent ceasefire.
But following his meeting with the Russian leader, he has increasingly signaled the need to “go directly to a Peace Agreement,” according to a social media post.
— Erin Doherty
Garb barb: Zelenskyy teases reporter who criticized his clothing
Zelenskyy jabbed a reporter who had previously questioned his sartorial choices.
When the Ukraine leader eschewed a jacket and tie during his first visit to the White House in February, reporter Brian Glenn for the conservative network Real America’s Voice asked, “Why don’t you wear a suit?”
This time around, Zelenskyy appeared in the Oval wearing an all-black suit, and Glenn, in a callback, said he looked “fabulous.”
Zelenskyy shot back that Glenn was wearing the same suit again — prompting a big laugh from the room.
— Kevin Breuninger
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