Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington for talks with President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia.
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He is being joined at the White House by several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, United Kingdom Prime Minister Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, among others.
Moments after arriving, Zelenskyy and Trump addressed the media.
"We're gonna have a lasting peace," Trump said. "I hope it's going be immediately. I hope it doesn't have to go on. And I think people, the whole world, is going to be very happy when that's announced."
Zelenskyy insisted that Ukraine needs security guarantees to fend off Russia in order for a peace deal to come together.
Zelenskyy also acknowledged on Monday the possibility of arranging future tri-lateral talks between himself, President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump supported that goal, saying Monday that such a meeting may provide a way forward to a cease-fire.
"We're going to try and get a three-party meeting maybe as soon as we can," President Trump said. "And I have a feeling you and President Putin are going to work something out. Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky and by the people of Ukraine working, also together in agreement with President Putin."
Prior to arriving at the White House, Zelenskyy met with the European leaders to "coordinate" their positions.
"One of the key issues in the negotiations with President Trump will be the joint participation of the United States and Europe in creating the future security architecture for Ukraine and, consequently, for the entire European continent," Zelenskyy's office said in a statement.
Those security guarantees could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO.
President Trump outlined a "NATO-like" arrangement in which countries would work together to ensure security for Ukraine.
Most details of such an arrangement are expected to be a focus of Monday's talks between leaders. President Trump said he would discuss the possibility of sending U.S. troops to Ukraine.
Monday's meeting comes just days after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. That meeting ended abruptly — with no peace deal and neither leader taking questions from reporters.
Trump said he would call Putin after his meeting with Zelenskyy and the other European leaders.
WATCH: Scripps News International Correspondent explains what's at stake in the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
