Trump Plans to Meet Putin and Zelensky Amid Ukraine Crisis
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as next week, followed by a three-way summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This plan comes amid long-standing efforts by the U.S. to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, despite skepticism from Ukrainians and rejection from the Kremlin.
Background
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has been a major international concern for over three years. The U.S., under the Trump administration, has taken an active role in seeking a resolution to this conflict. The White House confirmed that the possibility of a three-way meeting was discussed in a call between Trump and Zelensky, which included participation from the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, and the leaders of Britain, Germany, and Finland.
Key Developments
According to Fox News, news of these expected meetings came hours after U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held what Trump described as a highly productive
meeting with Putin. Great progress was made! Afterward, I updated some of our European Allies
, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Everyone agrees this War must come to an end, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.
Despite these promising developments, Le Monde reported that the Kremlin has rejected the idea of a three-way meeting. President Zelensky, however, remains open to face-to-face discussions with Putin and consulted with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz shortly after the rejection.
Implications and Reactions
Despite Trump's optimistic outlook, the New York Times reported that Ukrainians have greeted the planned Trump-Putin summit with skepticism. Many doubt that a meeting between Trump and Putin will result in a peace plan they can accept.
Experts have also weighed in on the proposed meetings. Vladimir Zharikhin opined that Trump has significant influence over European countries and Zelensky's team, while Andrey Koshkin stated that a meeting between the two leaders is necessary to advance a settlement in Ukraine.
Current Status
As the deadline for a peace deal approaches, the world waits for Trump's next move. The President has warned that Russia may face secondary tariffs targeting its oil exports if no agreement is reached. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, may visit Russia in the coming days ahead of the deadline.
With contrasting narratives from various sources, it remains to be seen whether the proposed meetings will take place and if they will bring about a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite the challenges, the push for peace continues.