VOLODYMYR Zelensky and Donald Trump had a love-in as he turned up in a suit for their crunch Ukraine peace talks.

Six months after a White House row — where Mr Zelensky was ridiculed for wearing combat gear — they laughed and joked in the Oval Office.

Complimented on his smart new look, the Ukrainian president joked his outfit was “the best I have”.

He also called out the US reporter who had a pop at him last time — for wearing the same suit.

At their meeting Mr Zelensky vowed he was ready to eyeball Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin to end the three-year war.

That opens the door to an historic trilateral meeting between the Americans, Russians and Ukraine that insiders suggest could come within weeks or even days.

President Trump declared “the war is going to end” as he publicly confirmed for the first time he will underwrite a peace deal.

He said “if there’s peace there is going to be peace for a long time”, adding: “When it comes to security there’s going to be a lot of help, we will be involved.”

And in a remarkable turnaround, the President did not rule out committing US troops.

Mr Trump, watched by his Vice President JD Vance, also backed a fresh meeting with Putin, after their Alaska summit last week.

He said: “I think if everything works out well today, we’ll have a trilat, and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.”

But he insisted European powers remained front and centre of policing a future peace.

He said European nations “will take a lot of the burden, but we are going to help them”.

And he said talks would “take in consideration the exchange of territory” but suggested any Russian land grabs would take into account current front lines.

But Mr Trump warned Ukraine could never join Nato, despite a 2024 agreement that put the nation on a path to membership being signed by the US.

That put him at odds with Sir Keir Starmer who is still pushing for Ukraine to join the Western defence alliance as a full member.

Asked whether “Nato-like protection” could still be offered to deter future Russian aggression, Mr Trump said he would “help them out with that”.

He later held talks with EU, Nato and European leaders.

‘NATO-LIKE PROTECTION’

He told them: “The Alaska summit reinforced my belief that while difficult, peace is within reach.

“I believe that in a very significant step President Putin agreed Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine and this is one of the key points that we need to consider, also like who will do what?

“I’m optimistic that collectively we can reach an agreement that would deter any future aggression against Ukraine.”

The PM told Mr Trump: “Your indication of security guarantees fits with what we’ve been doing with the ‘Coalition of the Willing’.

“With you coming alongside what we’ve already developed, I think we could take a really important step forward today — a historic step, actually, could come out of this meeting in terms of security for Ukraine and security in Europe.”

In contrast to February’s dust up, Mr Zelensky arrived at the White House in a black shirt and jacket.

And he was quick to thank Mr Trump after being accused of not being sufficiently grateful for aid worth billions of dollars Greeting him, the President declared of Mr Zelensky’s new look: “I can’t believe it, I love it.”

Mr Zelensky joked it was “the best I have”

Reporter Brian Glenn then told Mr Zelensky: “You look fabulous in that suit . . . you look good.”

Mr Trump replied: “I said the same.”

He then pointed out “he’s the one who attacked you last time”.

Mr Zelensky laughed and replied: “I remember.”

Glenn apologised, to which Mr Zelensky noticed he was wearing the same suit as last time and joked: “I changed, you did not”.

After coaching from British officials about handling Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky echoed Sir Keir handing over a letter from the King inviting the President to visit Britain.

Mr Zelensky presented Mr Trump with a letter from his wife, written to the First Lady of the United States.

He said she wished to thank Melania Trump for her plea to President Putin to stop slaughtering innocent Ukrainian children.

‘GAME-CHANGING’

Asked what he needs from the US, Mr Zelensky insisted “everything” — listing troops, weapons, training and intelligence.

White House aides have previously touted Nato-style assurances for Kyiv that would see allies come to its defence if Putin were to betray a peace deal.

Mr Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks with Putin last week, said the Russians would allow such guarantees in a “game-changing” concession.

But Downing Street insisted it still supported Mr Zelensky’s long-term ambition to join Nato.

Sir Keir’s spokesman said Kyiv was on a “irreversible path” to membership and that “Russia cannot have a veto against Ukraine’s pathway to the EU or Nato”.

Putin has previously claimed Nato expansion was an act of Western aggression and Ukrainian accession to the alliance was a red line.

No10 tried to downplay splits with the US, saying the two countries were working “hand in glove”.

Further tensions were sparked when Mr Trump claimed Mr Zelensky “can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight”.

Mr Trump later said Ukraine would have to accept there was “no getting back” Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Britain and other European nations insist “international borders must not be changed by force”.

Haggling over territory will centre on the Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Russia continued to attack in Ukraine yesterday in what Mr ­Zelensky called “demonstrative and cynical” strikes to destabilise the Oval Office meeting.

He railed: “That is precisely why we are seeking assistance to put an end to the killings. That is why reliable security guarantees are required. That is why Russia should not be rewarded for its participation in this war.”

Putin’s fire

RUSSIAN attacks on major cities in Ukraine killed at least ten people jsut hours before Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump.

A toddler and 16-year-old boy died with their entire family when an apartment block was hit in Kharkhiv.

There were seven deaths.

Some 23 people were also wounded there, authorities said.

In Zaporizhzhia, three died in a missile strike and 23 were injured.

Zelensky said the “demonstrative and cynical” attacks were trying to humiliate and keep pressure on Ukraine during peace talks.