Zelensky Seeks Stronger U.S. and European Backing to End the War

TDT | Manama

Email: ashen@newsofbahrain.com

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his deep gratitude to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump for writing what he described as a “touching peace letter” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The letter, focused on the plight of children affected by the war, was personally delivered to Moscow and, according to Zelenskyy, carried “a very human message” about the future of Ukraine’s younger generation.

During his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, Zelenskyy presented a reciprocal letter written by Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, addressed to Mrs. Trump. “This is not just about politics,” Zelenskyy said. “It is about families, about children, about life. I wanted to start with that.”

The encounter comes after a previously tense exchange between the two leaders during their last Oval Office meeting. This time, however, both Trump and Zelenskyy sought to highlight progress.

“We’ve had a lot of good talks,” President Trump told reporters. “There’s very substantial progress in many ways. I just met with President Putin recently, and I believe there’s a real possibility something positive could come out of these discussions. Today’s meeting is very important—we’ll also be meeting with seven powerful European leaders right after this.”

Zelenskyy, while thanking the U.S. for its continued support, stressed the urgency of ending the war. “Every day we face new attacks,” he said. “Children are being killed, families are being torn apart. We need peace. We need strong partners, and we are grateful for America’s role and for the support from Europe.”

The conversation inevitably turned to the broader question of peace negotiations. Trump suggested that a resolution was possible sooner than many expect. “I think if everything works out well, we could see an end to this war,” he said, adding that both Zelenskyy and Putin “want to see it ended.”

Reporters pressed both leaders on whether a potential peace deal would involve U.S. or NATO security guarantees. Trump stopped short of confirming American troop involvement but said discussions with European partners were ongoing. “If there is peace, it must be a lasting peace,” Trump emphasized. “Not two years and then back to war. It has to hold long-term.”

Zelenskyy also addressed the possibility of holding elections in Ukraine. “Of course, we want elections. But they must be safe and democratic,” he said, noting that free and fair elections would require a truce on the battlefield and in Ukrainian airspace.

The role of First Lady Melania Trump became a central, unexpected theme of the meeting. Trump described his wife’s initiative as heartfelt and deeply personal. “She has a great love for children,” he said. “She sees the funerals, the suffering, and she wanted to speak directly from her heart. Her letter was very well received.”

For Zelenskyy, the gesture symbolized more than diplomacy. “When the First Lady of the United States writes a letter for peace, it matters. It gives hope that humanity still has a voice in this war,” he said.

As discussions with European leaders continue this week, both sides framed the meeting as a renewed step toward potential peace. Whether that translates into a breakthrough remains uncertain, but the tone—marked by letters between first ladies and promises of progress—was notably softer than the fiery exchanges of the past.