President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a series of meetings at the White House with top European leaders. Trump is now arranging a potential face-to-face meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump-Zelensky-EU Meeting
The meeting between the two leaders would be the first since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The time and location of the meeting have not yet been finalized.
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“After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.”
Trilateral Meeting With Putin
Trump and other world leaders sought to build momentum for a trilateral meeting during Monday’s series of White House discussions. A number of European leaders, alongside Zelensky, gathered to discuss potential pathways toward ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump’s conversation with Putin came after extensive discussions with Zelensky and seven key European leaders earlier in the afternoon. The talks focused on potential security guarantees for Ukraine and broader efforts to achieve peace.
“During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”
Ceasefire Or Peace Deal? Diverging Views Among Leaders
While Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders projected a unified front, some differences of opinion emerged. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted that a follow-up meeting with Putin should only occur after a ceasefire is in place. Trump, however, countered that a ceasefire was not necessary for reaching a peace agreement.
Details on the proposed security guarantees for Ukraine remain unclear. Trump suggested that European nations would take the lead, leaving open the possibility of U.S. involvement.
Regarding territorial concessions, Trump emphasized that the decision would ultimately rest with Ukraine, though he has previously mentioned the potential need for “land swaps.” A White House staffer posted an image on Monday showing Trump and Zelensky standing in front of a map highlighting areas of Ukraine currently occupied by Russian forces.
Trump-Putin Meeting in Alaska
Monday’s meetings follow a summit last Friday in Alaska, where Trump hosted Putin. The summit marked Putin’s first visit to the US since 2015. While both leaders described the discussions as “progressive,” no concrete steps toward ending the war in Ukraine were revealed.
Also Read: Trump-Zelensky Meeting: Here Is What All Leaders Said About Ukraine Peace Talks
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
