President Donald Trump is holding hastily arranged talks Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a host of European leaders — a rarity at the White House — as he seeks to negotiate an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Why it matters: Putin has shown no interest in sitting down with Zelensky through 3.5 years of war. President Trump claims that's now changed, and that a presidential meeting is the key to unlocking peace.

The president's sudden openness to offering NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine has drawn a sharp rebuke from his hardcore allies.

As Trump hosted Zelensky and European leaders to energize months of stalled efforts to halt the Russia-Ukraine war, the tone was far different than when Ukraine’s president was hounded out of the White House in February.

I love it.” Mr Trump was referring to Mr Zelensky’s decision to bow to American pressure and wear a suit-like garment to the meeting, an issue that had contributed to an acrimonious blow-up in the Oval Office in February (when Mr Zelensky wore a black sweater).

Trump is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, along with several European leaders, in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

The Ukrainian president’s outfit during his visit to the White House Monday reflects a change in tactics since his disastrous meeting with US President Trump earlier this year.

Trump shows off merch teasing third term as Zelensky visits seeking end to Ukraine war: ‘Exit through the gift shop’ - The president was reaching for a ‘4 More Years’ hat to show the Ukrainian preside