The United States is not only working to bring the leaders of Russia and Ukraine together but has also floated the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving President Donald Trump. The White House said a meeting between Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump could follow their initial one-on-one “if necessary.”
This positions Trump as a central figure in the ongoing peace negotiations. The primary focus for now, however, is on the bilateral summit between Putin and Zelenskyy. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the administration is actively coordinating this meeting, claiming that Putin has already agreed to it and that it could happen within two weeks.
Russia has responded with caution, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating that any leadership summit requires extensive preparation, a comment that seems to temper the White House’s ambitious timeline. Trump himself has acknowledged the uncertainty, noting that Putin’s willingness to strike a deal remains to be seen over the next couple of weeks.
President Zelenskyy has confirmed he is “ready” to meet Putin to discuss the critical issue of territory. Meanwhile, discussions about the security guarantees Ukraine hopes to receive are proceeding with European and NATO allies. Trump has made it clear that while U.S. soldiers will not be sent to Ukraine, American air support is being considered as a potential contribution to the country’s security.
