Jake Sullivan: Trump-zelensky Meeting 'first Sliver Of Hope I've Had In A While'

Former Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the recent meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave him the “first sliver of hope I’ve had in a while.”

"You saw that meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky, very public images, very remarkable images really. But what does that signal to you?” ABC News’s Martha Raddatz asked Sullivan on “This Week.”

“Well, it gives me the first sliver of hope I've had in a while because what I've seen to date is President Trump giving Vladimir Putin U.S. recognition of Crimea, which Russia illegally occupied and annexed,” Sullivan responded.

“Even China hasn't recognized Crimea as part of Russia, and President Trump is telling the Russians he will do that. He's given Putin a promise that Ukraine will not be part of NATO, and he’s given Putin a promise that he can keep all the territory that he has illegally invaded and seized,” he added.

Since President Trump’s return to office a few months ago, his administration has pushed to end the war in Ukraine, talking with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump and Zelensky met Saturday in Rome prior to the funeral of Pope Francis, who died last week.

“Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelensky wrote on the social platform X on Saturday. “Hoping for results on everything we covered.”

“Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results,” he added. “Thank you @POTUS.”

On Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the “only solution” for the war in Ukraine is a negotiation where both Russia and Ukraine “give up something.”

“There is no military solution to this war,” Rubio told NBC News’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.” “The only solution to this war is a negotiated settlement where both sides are going to have to give up something they claim to want, and are going to have to give the other side something they wish they didn’t.”

“That’s how you end wars, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve here so more people won’t die,” he added.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.