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Consider This from NPR

Trump and Zelenskyy meet again

Consider This from NPR

NPR

Society & Culture, News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.15.3K Ratings

🗓️ 18 August 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the last few days, President Donald Trump has met separately with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, in an attempt to break the deadlock and end the war. 

Today’s meeting at the White House between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed to go much better than last time, when Zelenskyy left early after a heated argument in the Oval Office. In fact, Zelenskyy hailed today’s meeting as “the best one” yet. 

Even so, the next steps to ending the war are unclear. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy still haven’t met face-to-face to negotiate, and it’s not certain whether they will be able to find common ground. 

NPR White House Correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben gives an update on the day’s events, and former national security advisor Susan Rice gives her perspective on the likelihood of a deal.

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Email us at [email protected].

This episode was produced by Megan Lim and Mia Venkat.

It was edited by Christopher Intagliata, Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill and Nadia Lancy.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

In the last few days, President Trump has met separately with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to break the deadlock and in the war.

0:10.0

On Friday, he met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a high-profile summit in Alaska.

0:15.8

Today, he once again welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House.

0:20.9

Now, as you might recall, the last time Zelensky visited the White House back in February,

0:26.0

things did not go well.

0:27.0

You're not in a good position.

0:29.3

You don't have the cards right now.

0:31.5

With us, you start having cards.

0:33.4

Right now, you don't think you play cards.

0:35.8

You're playing cards.

0:37.4

Tensions and voices rose as President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance contended that Zelensky was not thankful enough for U.S. aid.

0:46.8

Have you said thank you once?

0:48.6

There's a lot of times.

0:49.9

No, in this entire meeting, have you said thank you?

0:52.3

A reporter even criticized Zelensky's casual attire.

0:56.3

Why don't you wear a suit? Why don't you wear a suit? You're the highest level in this country's office and you refuse to wear a suit.

1:04.7

Just want to see if you own a suit?

1:06.5

The visit was cut short. Zolensky took off no lunch, no joint press conference, no deal.

1:13.2

Well, today's meeting started on a different note. As President Zelensky stepped out of his SUV, he was suited up in a black field jacket, a black collared shirt, and black slacks.

1:23.3

And so far, the tone has been decidedly different this time around.

1:27.1

At a roundtable with European leaders, both Trump and Zelensky, sounded optimistic.

1:31.9

I believe a peace agreement at the end of all of this is something that's very attainable,

...

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