CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago’s Ukrainian community continues to try and find different ways to help their loved ones back home. That was the case Sunday with the annual tradition of the Ukrainian Village festival, which always brings everyone together.

Many of the festival attendee are hoping real peace comes from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to the White House on Monday.

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President Zelenskyy will be joined by European and NATO leaders Monday as he returns to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Sources told ABC News that Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Ukraine give up the Donetsk region in exchange for halting further aggression.

Zelenskyy has pushed back on that, and Illinois 5th District Representative Mike Quigley says that deal may only lead to more problems.

“if he gets this land and they do this deal he will restock, rebuild his economy, rebuild his army and come back in a year or two to finish the job,” Rep. Quigley said. “That’s why our European allies are there, because they know Putin’s aims are well beyond Ukraine.”

Ahead of Monday’s meeting, President Trump posted on social media, saying “BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA… STAY TUNED!”

Chicago’s Ukrainian community is hoping that is the case as they gathered for their annual festival Sunday, with many organizations continuing to fundraise for the people still living through this war back home.

“It’s never stopping they are bombing us everyday sending rockets to civilians killing a lot of people so we’re trying somehow to help,” said Ivan Shkudor with MEEST.

“These are difficult times for all Ukrainians overall, but our mission is just to support the children,” said Oksana Taratula, founder of the Ukrainian Women Association of America.

Some of that optimism has dwindled after President Trump could not reach a deal with President Putin at the Alaska Summit.

Zelenskyy was not there for those negotiations as he continues to demand a ceasefire.

“Even though they’re gonna make a pause or some kind of peace negotiation it’s only for them to stop and gain more power and they’ll continue to do that,” Shkudor said.

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“I’m an optimistic guy, but you haven’t seen anything in which the president has done something he has to take charge,” Rep. Quigley said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says both sides will need to make concessions if a peace deal is going to be reached. But President Zelenskyy says that can only happen with Ukraine at the table.