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WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 18, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he has initiated arrangements for a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signaling a potential turning point in efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking after high-level talks at the White House with Zelenskyy and a coalition of European leaders, Trump confirmed that he had called President Putin to begin coordinating the meeting, which he said would take place “at a location to be determined”.
🔑 A Step Toward Dialogue
The proposed meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders would mark the first direct engagement between the two since the conflict escalated in late 2023. Trump indicated that the bilateral meeting would be followed by a trilateral session involving himself, aimed at facilitating a broader peace framework.
“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin and began the arrangements for a meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself”.
🗣️ Security Guarantees and European Support
The announcement comes amid mounting pressure for a negotiated settlement. Zelenskyy has made security guarantees a central condition for any agreement, seeking assurances from the U.S. and European allies to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty post-conflict.
During Monday’s White House meetings, Trump hosted leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO. The group, described as a “coalition of the willing,” expressed unified support for Ukraine and discussed mechanisms for delivering coordinated security guarantees.
🌍 Diplomatic Implications
The proposed Putin–Zelenskyy meeting is expected to address key issues including territorial disputes, ceasefire terms, and humanitarian access. While no date or venue has been confirmed, diplomatic sources suggest that neutral ground—possibly in Europe or the Middle East—is under consideration.
Trump’s initiative follows his recent summit with Putin in Alaska, which ended without a ceasefire but reportedly made progress on preliminary terms. Observers note that the success of the upcoming meeting will depend on both sides’ willingness to compromise and the credibility of international guarantees.
