Possible locations for a summit between Putin, Zelensky, and Trump identified by Reuters
A trilateral meeting between Presidents Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky is on the horizon, but faces significant hurdles. The proposed meeting aims to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The location for the potential trilateral meeting remains undetermined, with no specific venue decided upon. The decision on the location and Putin's agreement to participate are still pending.
Several conditions complicate the arrangement of the meeting. Russia demands to be part of any discussion on security guarantees for Ukraine, a demand that could hinder the process. Zelensky has consistently opposed surrendering any Ukrainian territory, a stance that contradicts Russia's interests in regions like Donbas. The White House suggests a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky should occur before any trilateral meeting due to areas of disagreement.
Despite Trump's optimism about arranging a trilateral meeting and achieving a peace deal, Putin has not confirmed his participation. The Kremlin has not confirmed a meeting with Zelensky, only discussing the idea of raising the level of representation in negotiations. European leaders have emphasized during the call that Kyiv must have reliable security guarantees for any discussion of Ukraine's future.
Putin's reluctance to agree to a trilateral meeting without specific conditions being met is a significant hurdle. The conflict over Ukrainian territory, particularly the Donbas region, remains unresolved. Russia's insistence on being involved in discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine complicates negotiations.
Trump proposes an immediate meeting between Putin and Zelensky after the summit in Alaska on August 15. The question of a trilateral summit was raised by US special envoy Steve Whitkoff during his visit to Moscow at the beginning of August. However, no further details about the potential conditions for the meetings were provided in the report.
The Kremlin states that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine at the highest level should put an end to the settlement, and any other sequence is impossible. The US President's proposal for an immediate meeting is conditional on receiving desired answers and avoiding "very serious consequences" if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire. Putin's meeting with Zelensky is contingent upon certain conditions, but he considers the meeting to be "still far away."
As the details of the proposed trilateral meeting continue to unfold, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The uncertainty surrounding the location for a potential trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky adds another layer to the complex politics involved. Discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine are expected to be a contentious point, as Russia demands to be part of these conversations.
