After experiencing a historic disagreement with the White House last February, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, returned to Donald Trump's residence this Friday to continue talking about ending the conflict with Russia, which began in February 2022. This is the third time that Zelensky has visited the White House in 2025, a period in which relations between the two have seen significant changes. While Donald Trump began the year - and his second term - by accusing the Ukrainian president of starting the conflict or"playing with World War III," the American has been changing his tune over the months, showing his frustration with Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress towards achieving a ceasefire.

As soon as Zelensky arrived at the White House, reporters asked the US president if he believes he can convince Vladimir Putin to end the war, to which he replied:"Yes, we can." His Ukrainian counterpart echoed his words at the start of the bilateral meeting on Friday, thanking his host for his support:"I am convinced that with your help we can end this war."

One of the main topics Trump and Zelensky will discuss this Friday will be the call the American had yesterday with Vladimir Putin and the subsequent meeting they will hold in Budapest, although it is not yet known when that will be. The US president began by praising Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary and Putin's closest ally within the European Union."[Hungary is] a safe country, he's done a very good job," Trump told reporters."He's a very good leader in the sense of how he governs his country. He doesn't have many of the problems that other countries have," he added.

He was then asked if Zelensky would participate in the meeting. Trump responded that"it's to be determined" and added that there is "a lot of bad blood" between Putin and the Ukrainian."We want it to be comfortable for everyone. All three of us will participate, but maybe separately."

The American has asserted that Putin wants to end the war, expressing this during a two-and-a-half-hour phone call yesterday."We went over a lot of details," Trump said of the call. Putin"wants to end it. I think President Zelensky wants to end it. Now we have to do it."

One of the obstacles to achieving peace in Ukraine will depend on Ukraine's accession (or not) to NATO, one of the"security guarantees" that Zelensky claims is non-negotiable. Asked whether he would consider abandoning his request to join the NATO, he stated that this issue"is very important for the Ukrainians" and that "it is up to them and Ukraine's allies to decide" what the country's position is."The most important thing for the people of Ukraine, who are under attack, is to have security guarantees," he concluded, before adding that he wants bilateral security guarantees from Trump."For me, that document is the most important."