US, Ukraine, Europe pledge to advance Russia-Ukraine peace process

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US, Ukraine, Europe pledge to advance Russia-Ukraine peace process

2025-08-19 09:40 Last Updated At：17:27

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders in the White House, Washington, D.C. on Monday, and they have pledged to advance Russia-Ukraine peace process.

Trump said via his social media that he had a very good meeting with Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte.

The meeting focused on security guarantees for Ukraine, and the guarantees would be provided by the relevant European countries, with a coordination with the U.S., Trump wrote, noting that everyone is very happy about the possibility of peace.

Also on Monday, Trump said that he called Russian President Vladimir Putin and began the arrangements for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky at a location to be determined.

"After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years," Trump posted on the Truth Social platform.

On Monday, Trump first held a bilateral meeting with Zelensky in the White House. Zelensky said later that the two sides had a "very good talk." Following that, Trump and Zelensky held multilateral meetings with European leaders. At the meeting, Merz said that the European side hopes to achieve a ceasefire before holding more talks. Starmer said that Europe is ready to take responsibility to ensure Ukrainian security.

Rutte stressed that Trump is willing to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, which is a "breakthrough" to ensure a peace agreement.

At the meeting, Ursula von der Leyen called for joint efforts to achieve just and lasting peace.

Macron stated that any future trilateral talks involving Trump, Putin and Zelensky should include European representation to address the continent's shared security concerns.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. president's special envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine, according to Trump.

Trump said on Sunday that Zelensky could swiftly end the conflict with Russia by abandoning efforts to reclaim Crimea and forgoing NATO membership.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said, "President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight." "No getting back Obama given Crimea and no going into NATO by Ukraine. Some things never change!"

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Monday that Ukraine is making every effort to end the war with Russia this year. Sybiha said that the Trump-Zelensky meeting is one of the decisive moments to promote peace. Ukraine hopes to further clarify the details of future security guarantees for Ukraine and promote the preparations for the trilateral meeting.

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Monday that he has called a video conference of the members of the European Council to discuss Ukraine, following meetings in Washington.

Costa said in a post on X that the talks would begin at 13:00 on Tuesday and serve as a debriefing on discussions in Washington about Ukraine.

He added that, together with the United States, the European Union would continue working towards a lasting peace that safeguards Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.