The Kremlin is keeping its options open, but analysts said the Russian leader would probably only meet with his Ukrainian counterpart to accept a capitulation.

Russia has so far refused to agree to a face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin, despite several requests from Kyiv. The Kremlin hasn't ruled out summits for the two leaders but has said they could only meet in the very final stages of clinching a peace agreement.

Russia is refusing to commit to a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which President Trump has encouraged as a next step toward ending the war between their two countries.

The Ukrainian president says Monday's talks have been "constructive" as European leaders repeat calls for a ceasefire.

President Trump had suggested a meeting between Russia and Ukraine’s leaders could be a potential next step on the path to peace, but Russian state news media barely mentioned such a meeting in its coverage.

"The Federalist" CEO Sean Davis appeared on FNC's "The Will Cain Show" on Monday and reacted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could meet within the next two weeks thanks to President Trump’s efforts to bring an end to the war, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The Kremlin for its part has stayed evasive. Putin on Monday told Trump he was "open" to the idea of direct talks with Ukraine, but by the next day foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had watered down that already vague commitment.

In a day of diplomatic maneuvers, Europeans argued that Kyiv should not yield key cities, and Trump designated Rubio to draft security guarantees.

Ukrainian analysts watching their president’s return to the White House were braced for a “nightmare.” They took cautious encouragement from what they saw instead.