Zelenski leaves the White House unharmed while buying more time

This time the optics could not be different.

Unlike the shockingly unscrupulous previous meeting in February, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodimir Zelenski seemed to be determined not to look confrontation – despite their other differences.

Zelenski wore a collar suit (though not the classic variety), and Trump complied with his clothing. The Ukrainian president also repeatedly said “Thank you,” which must have also pleased his host.

When he was opened in the oval cabinet, Zelenski spoke a little – or maybe he didn’t behave, fearing that what he had to say was different from what Trump wanted to hear.

The differences showed later when American and Ukrainian presidents appeared to journalists with European leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz and French President Emmanuel Macron said that the cessation of fire in Ukraine should be the next step, although Trump claims that it was not necessary before finding a more constant solution.

Zelenski remained apparently quiet about the matter.

What we have heard from the leaders suggests that their discussions behind closed doors focus on the security guarantees for Ukraine and the prospects for a meeting between Zelenski and Putin.

No details have been revealed about what guarantees have been discussed or how to be face -to -face in the same room with Putin will help to end the war.

But after the day of conversation, Zelenski Security guarantees described as a necessary “starting point for termination of war”.

At an earlier press conference outside the White House, he said security guarantees could include a $ 90 billion deal ($ 67 billion) between Kiev and Washington to acquire weapons in the United States, including aviation systems, anti-missile systems and other weapons he declined to disclose.

Zelenski also said that the United States will buy Ukrainian drones, which will help to strengthen the internal production of the unmanned aircraft. Although no official agreement has been reached, Zelenski said that a deal could be concluded in the next 10 days.

However, the Privan leader was more and more to talk about his possible meeting with Putin, By telling reporters that he is ready to meet directly with his Russian counterpart and if Moscow agrees, Trump can join the negotiations. So far, Putin has been resisting a direct meeting with Zelenski.

“Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace,” he told reporters, adding that no date had been set.

One of the problems that leaders seemed reluctant to raise before the media was possible territorial discounts from Ukraine.

Zelenski also mentioned how he showed his US colleague a map of Ukraine, emphasizing that Russia has managed to occupy less than 1% of Ukrainian territory in the last 1000 days. It was news for the White House, he said. And that helped to swing Trump’s mood, obviously.

“I struggle with what is on this card,” Zelenski told reporters, adding that he gave up what was shown the Oval Office card as territories filmed with Russian.

“It is not possible to say that this many territory is taken over during this time. These points are important.”

The Ukrainian leader seemed most optimistic about his last White House appearance, describing his meeting with Trump as “warm”. However, his optimism seemed deliberate as he seeks to avoid the repetition of his last visit to the Oval Office and persuade his American hosts to embrace the European position to end war.

But maybe A key result of the trip was that it helped Ukraine buy more time. The call that Trump had with Putin after her first meeting with European leaders suggests that Russia was able to do exactly the same.

Despite the widespread fears, there was no catastrophe at the top of Alaska and Washington – at least none of what was publicly announced.

The status quo remains.