On Monday’s three-year anniversary of Russia invading Ukraine, the leader of America’s oldest ally visited the White House for an urgent meeting as President Donald Trump tries to broker an end to the war with a dramatic pivot in U.S. foreign strategy.

“It’s my hope that my greatest legacy, however, will be as a peacemaker and a unifier,” Trump said during a bilateral press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Trump’s recent comments calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” and blaming Ukraine for the war has left allies questioning the future of U.S. support for its ally and warily watching as Trump officials reengage with Russia.

In a social media post summarizing a Monday morning call with G7 leaders, Trump said, “At the same time, I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the War, and also major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia. Talks are proceeding very well!”

While taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he’d go to Moscow “at the appropriate time.”

From the White House’s perspective, a peace deal may hinge on Ukraine agreeing to give the U.S. ownership of some of its rare earth minerals. In exchange, Ukraine insists on security guarantees. As of Monday, both sides said they’re making progress in negotiations.

Trump said Zelenskyy may come to Washington this week or next week to sign a deal.

Zelenskyy made his terms clear in a social media post Sunday.

“We all need peace — long-lasting and reliable one. And we want a good economic deal that will be part of a true security guarantee system for Ukraine and the free world. Our teams are working every day and we are making great progress. Ukraine wants a strong agreement—one that guarantees security and lays a solid foundation for our economic partnership with the United States for decades to come. Fair terms produce strong results,” Zelenskyy said.

Critics of the president have equated his administration’s pressure on Ukraine to extortion.

“I would rather see long-term peace with a partner in Europe than a short-term extraction contract to make a few bucks,” Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., said.

A fundamental disagreement between the Trump administration and Ukraine appears to be in the new president’s expectation that Ukraine pay the U.S. back for the aid it’s provided, which Zelenskyy addressed in a press conference Sunday.

“We should not recognize grants as debt. Like it or not, but I had agreed it with Biden, with the U.S. Congress, and I’m thankful for the Congress. In presence of two parties, there was support for grants and grants make no debt,” said a translator for Zelenskyy.

Trump’s idea that Ukraine should have to pay back aid grants from Europe, too, made for an awkward moment in the Oval Office with the French president.

“Just so you understand, Europe is loaning the money to Ukraine. They get their money back,” Trump told a reporter.

Immediately, Macron stepped in to correct him.

“No, in fact, to be frank, we paid. We paid 60% of the total effort,” Macron said. “It was like the U.S.: loans, guarantees, grants.”

Have a news tip? Contact Ahtra Elnashar at aelnashar@sbgtv.com.