Trump Hosts Zelenskyy and Seven European Leaders: 'This Isn't My War. This Is Joe Biden's War' (August 18, 2025)

Three days after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and seven European leaders at the White House [3]. Asked which side had the better cards, Trump made clear whose war it was. “I’m just here to be—look, this isn’t my war. This is Joe Biden’s war. He’s the one that had a lot to do with this happening, and we want to get it ended,” he said [1].

“And we want it to end good for everybody. We want it to end good. The people of Ukraine have suffered incredibly,” Trump said [1].

The video above shows the leaders arriving on Aug. 18, 2025. Quotes are from the official transcripts published by the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”I’ve Ended Six Wars”

Trump said the war would end. “When it ends, I can’t tell you. But the war is going to end. And this gentleman wants it to end, and Vladimir Putin wants it to end,” he said [1].

“You know, I’ve done six wars. I’ve ended six wars. And I thought this maybe would be the easiest one. [ Laughter ] And it’s not the easiest one. It’s a tough one,” Trump said. He pointed to India and Pakistan and to “Rwanda and the Congo,” a conflict he said had “been going on for 31 years” [1].

”Which Is It?”

Fox News’ Peter Doocy put two posts side by side. “President Zelenskyy, you say, in a post on X today, ‘Russia must end this war, which it itself started.’ President Trump, you say, ‘President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to.’ Which is it?” [1]

“Yes, I think that’s true,” Trump said. “If everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat. And I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that” [1].

”You Look Fabulous in That Suit”

Brian Glenn of Real America’s Voice had a lighter question. “First of all is, President Zelenskyy, you look fabulous in that suit,” he said. “I said the same thing,” Trump said. “That’s the one that attacked you last time” [1].

Zelenskyy shot back at Glenn: “But you are in the same suit.” Then: “You see, I changed. You are not.” “That’s pretty good,” Trump said [1].

”No More Elections? Oh, That’s Good”

Glenn asked whether Ukraine would hold elections after a peace deal. Zelenskyy said yes, but explained that “during the war, you can’t have elections” [1].

Trump turned it into a joke. “So, let me just see, 3½ years from now—so, you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections? Oh, that’s good. [ Laughter ] I wonder what the—I wonder what the fake news is going to say,” he said [1].

”I Want It”

Zelenskyy opened by thanking the first lady. “Many thanks to your wife, First Lady of the United States. She sent a letter to Putin about our children—abducted children,” he said. When Zelenskyy explained that his own wife had sent a letter, but “not to you—to your wife,” Trump answered: “Oh. [ Laughter ] I want it. I want it” [1].

”First Line of Defense”

On security guarantees, Trump said Europe would lead. “They are first line of defense because they’re there. They’re Europe. But we’re going to help them out also. We’ll be involved,” he said [1].

At the larger meeting, Trump said Putin had moved. “In a very significant step, President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said. “And I think that the European nations are going to take a lot of the burden” [2].

”Exchanges of Territory”

Trump also laid out what was on the table. “We also need to discuss the possible exchanges of territory, taking into consideration the current line of contact—that means the war zone, the war lines that are pretty obvious—very sad, actually, to look at them—and negotiating positions,” he told the European leaders [2].

“The Alaska summit reinforced my belief that, while difficult, peace is within reach, and I believe that,” Trump said. He called it a historic gathering: “not since the Second World War has there been anything like this” [2].

”Where Did You Get That Tan?”

Trump welcomed each leader by name. Of France’s Emmanuel Macron, he said: “I liked him from day one, and I like him even more now. That’s pretty good. That’s unusual.” To Italy’s Giorgia Meloni: “You’ve lasted a long time. You’re going to be there a long time.” To Germany’s Friedrich Merz: “You look great with your tan. Where did you get that tan?” [2]

By the Numbers

7: European leaders at the White House, in Trump’s count [1].
6: wars Trump said he had ended [1].
31 years: how long Trump said the Rwanda-Congo conflict had run [1].
3½ years: the time until the next U.S. presidential election, by Trump’s joke [1].

What Happened Next

Trump called Putin. After the meetings, Trump wrote: “At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself” [4].

For Trump’s earlier meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican, see HYGO News’ page on Pope Francis’ funeral, and for his talks with Meloni, the page on Trump and Meloni on Iran.