U.S. President Donald Trump has extended sanctions against Russia ahead of a crucial meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House later today.
Trump has renewed the state of emergency declaration concerning the situation in Ukraine until March 6, 2026, while maintaining sanctions initially imposed by former President Barack Obama in 2014.
In an official decree, Trump emphasized that “The actions and policies addressed in these Executive Orders continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
This announcement follows Trump’s comments on Thursday during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Trump suggested that a peace deal for Ukraine could happen “soon or not at all” and reiterated his push for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
He also mentioned re-establishing contact with Moscow, expressing confidence in Vladimir Putin’s commitment to any potential peace agreement. “I have confidence that if we make a deal, it’s going to hold,” Trump stated.
Zelensky is scheduled to arrive at the White House at 11 a.m. local time (4 p.m. UK time), with a press conference expected to follow two hours later.
During his visit, Zelensky is anticipated to hold important discussions on military aid, long-term security guarantees, and the future of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, a summit on Ukraine with European leaders is set for Sunday. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will also hold a call with leaders from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to discuss security and support for Ukraine.
Following Zelensky’s visit to the White House, he will meet with officials at Downing Street for further talks on military assistance.
In addition, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will participate in talks on migration, Ukraine, and European security. The upcoming Ukraine summit will involve leaders from a wide range of countries, including Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, and Romania. Key representatives from NATO, the European Commission, and the European Council will also attend.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that Prime Minister Starmer will use the summit to push for collective European action on Ukraine, aiming for a just and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Key Trump-Zelensky Meeting Schedule:
- 11:00 a.m. (4:00 p.m. UK time): Trump and Zelensky meet at the White House
- 11:05 a.m. (4:05 p.m. UK time): Bilateral meeting in the Oval Office
- 11:35 a.m. (4:35 p.m. UK time): Working lunch between the two presidents
- 1:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. UK time): Joint press conference in the East Room
Additionally, Trump has denied accusations that he called Zelensky a “dictator,” despite his earlier criticisms on Truth Social regarding Ukraine’s elections, which have been suspended under martial law.
During their meeting, Trump and Zelensky are expected to sign a critical minerals agreement, which Trump claims will serve as a security measure to deter further Russian aggression.
