The Hill

The war has grown worse for Ukrainians since Mr. Trump returned to the White House, not better.

President Trump repeatedly promised during his campaign that he would end the war in Ukraine in one day.

Zelensky holds out hope for the future of NATO membership.

The Ukrainian leader has come under increasing pressure from both Russia and President Trump to hold elections.

In the past few months, Mr. Trump has terminated efforts at the Justice Department and the State Department to collect evidence of war crimes committed by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky is the one with the most on the line in the summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among the most prominent guests expected in Munich.

Over the past year, Mr. Trump has imposed tariffs on European goods; pushed to end the war in Ukraine on terms largely favorable to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia; threatened to pry Greenland from Denmark; withheld funding from the United Nations; and created a competing body for resolving global conflicts.

His support for Ukraine in the war against Russia remains volatile.

Putin and Trump met six times during Trump’s first term.

“Putin and Trump met six times during Trump's first term.”

Bolton on Thursday argued the Russian leader wanted the meeting to project an image of international legitimacy and to pull Trump back into his orbit.

“Bolton on Thursday argued the Russian leader wanted the meeting to project an image of international legitimacy and to pull Trump back into his orbit.”

Bolton said Trump’s view was that he would be able to resolve tricky diplomatic situations so long as he had good personal relations with leaders of other countries.

“Bolton said Trump’s view was that he would be able to resolve tricky diplomatic situations so long as he had good personal relations with leaders of other countries.”

“I think Trump is obviously displeased with Putin, but he’s also been careful to say that he’s not done with him yet — that he still hopes somehow, that their friendship can be recreated, and like two good friends, they can resolve the war in Ukraine,” the former Trump official told NewsNation.

““I think Trump is obviously displeased with Putin, but he’s also been careful to say that he’s not done with him yet — that he still hopes somehow, that their friendship can be recreated, and like two good friends, they can resolve the war in Ukraine,” the former Trump official told NewsNation.”

The president has often raised the prospect of meeting with Putin, though it’s unclear when or where such a summit would take place.

“The president has often raised the prospect of meeting with Putin, though it’s unclear when or where such a summit would take place.”

Whether Zelensky would attend is also an open question.

“Whether Zelensky would attend is also an open question.”

But he cast doubt on whether the president saw the full intricacies of the situation.

“But he cast doubt on whether the president saw the full intricacies of the situation.”

“Trump is getting into something he doesn’t understand the gravity of.

““Trump is getting into something he doesn’t understand the gravity of.”

He’s precipitating this meeting because it will be great press,” he said.

“He’s precipitating this meeting because it will be great press," he said.”

“I don’t know where the meeting will be, but it will be surrounded by cameras and reporters.”

“"I don’t know where the meeting will be, but it will be surrounded by cameras and reporters."”

He added, “And that is a gross oversimplification.”

“He added, “And that is a gross oversimplification.””