WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to press for firm security guarantees as American-brokered efforts to end the war with Russia continued to falter. The talks followed weeks of shuttle diplomacy involving European leaders.

The meeting came against the backdrop of stalled ceasefire negotiations that have repeatedly stumbled over questions of territory, sanctions relief and Western military commitments. Trump has publicly pushed both Kyiv and Moscow toward a settlement, while European governments have voiced concern over any deal reached without Ukraine's consent.

Zelensky was accompanied by senior aides and coordinated his position in advance with leaders from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, according to Ukrainian officials. European capitals have sought to ensure that any agreement includes credible guarantees against future Russian aggression and preserves Ukrainian sovereignty over contested regions.

The Kremlin has signalled reluctance to accept terms that would allow Western troops or robust security arrangements on Ukrainian soil. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson previously described such proposals as unacceptable, deepening doubts that a durable ceasefire can be secured in the near term.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have said the alliance must be prepared to underwrite any postwar settlement. Analysts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London warned that gaps between Washington's timeline and Kyiv's demands remain wide.