WASHINGTON — President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put on friendly faces in front of the world’s media in the Oval Office Monday — avoiding a replay of their ugly spat from February — as the American leader attempts to hammer out a peace deal in Eastern Europe.
Trump, 79, expressed approval of Zelensky, 47, choosing to wear a military-style suit in a sign of respect — ditching his usual camouflage wardrobe, and both leaders handled occasionally hostile press questions without clashing.
Follow The Post’s live coverage of President Trump’s meeting with Zelensky
The leaders were seen smiling and laughing — and Vice President JD Vance, who played a key role in the February blowup, shook hands with Zelensky’s right hand man, Andriy Yermak, before the meeting.
The high-level gathering of Zelensky and top European partners at the White House is seen as a positive for Trump, who is mediating the talks in hopes of getting both Ukraine and Russia at the same table to negotiate a final agreement.
Zelensky said there were “two parts” that Kyiv needs as part of any peace deal, including a “strong Ukrainian army” featuring Western weaponry, training and intelligence sharing, and also persistent backing of “big countries.”
The Ukrainian added that he was ready for a trilateral meeting with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin — while the US president said the possibility of American troops in eastern Europe would be discussed.
“We’ll let you know that maybe later today, we’re meeting with seven great leaders of great countries also, and we’ll be talking about that,” Trump said of US troops being placed in Ukraine.
Heading into the meeting, there was no expectation that a formal deal would be reached, or even a date set for a trilateral meeting, sources familiar with the discussions told The Post on Monday.
The goal instead was to get all parties “on the same page,” with the Europeans seeking clarity on previously mentioned US security guarantees.
While territorial matters were likely to be discussed, there was no expectation that Zelensky would have to commit to giving up part of the strategically vital Donetsk region that Russia has been unable to take over the past 41 months of war.
Instead, the US was watching for any willingness by Ukraine to discuss what they might be willing to agree to regarding the land Moscow currently occupies.
“We need to sit and discuss different possibilities, different variants [of Russia occupying parts of Ukraine], because it’s possible to find very creative [alternatives,]” a source told The Post.
Last week, rumors flew that Russia may be willing to leave the Kherson and Zaporhizia regions in exchange for Ukraine giving up Donetsk. However, Moscow has since denied the reporting.
Trump met Friday with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, and hastily gathered Zelensky and seven European leaders Monday to discuss the final elements of a potential peace agreement.
Putin has requested that Ukraine surrender Donetsk completely as a condition to end the war, while Zelensky has expressed fear that doing so would set the stage for a renewed onslaught.
Visiting European leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, have agreed to commit troops to a peacekeeping operation following the signing of any deal, which the allies assess would grant NATO-like protection to Kyiv without formal admission to the alliance.
Trump vowed to call Putin at the conclusion of his meeting with Zelensky — and said even an impasse Monday was “not the end of the road” of negotiating for peace.
