Trump set to facilitate encounter between Putin and Zelensky - Trump calls for an immediate bilateral encounter between Putin and Zelensky
The planned meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, facilitated by US President Donald Trump, remains uncertain as of late August 2025. Despite the Kremlin not publicly refusing a meeting, Russia insists on thorough preparatory steps, including the establishment of expert working groups and detailed negotiations at lower levels first [1].
The current diplomatic framework bears resemblance to the "Istanbul 2" negotiation format, involving the same conditions and participants as earlier talks. However, Ukraine finds itself in a more precarious situation given the ongoing conflict, particularly the risks related to the Donbas region. Despite ongoing exchanges such as prisoner swaps, these indirect talks have not produced significant breakthroughs [1].
President Trump has publicly expressed frustration with Putin due to continued Russian military strikes on Ukraine, which undermine peace efforts. This indicates that the conflict remains active and unresolved despite any diplomatic initiatives [2].
In a positive development, President Trump and President Zelenskyy have expressed a shared goal of working towards a peace agreement. Trump stated at their meeting that they can work on a deal aimed at achieving a peace agreement [3].
However, the issue of NATO troop deployment in Ukraine has caused a rift. UK Prime Minister Starmer has expressed his willingness for NATO troops in Ukraine, a proposition that Russia views as escalating the conflict. Russia has rejected the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine [4].
The prospect of a near-term leaders’ meeting appears unlikely given the security situation on the ground and Russia’s firm stipulations. The meeting’s potential impact on the conflict remains limited unless accompanied by serious concessions and progress at the expert negotiation level [1][2].
Germany, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has a high responsibility in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as Merz stated [5]. French President Emmanuel Macron considers a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky crucial for resolving the conflict, and he believes that a four-way meeting involving Europe may also be necessary for a lasting peace [6].
The diplomatic dance between world leaders continues, with the hope that a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict can be achieved.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025). Ukraine-Russia conflict: Putin-Zelenskyy meeting 'unlikely soon'. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57787204
[2] Reuters. (2025). Russia's military strikes on Ukraine undermine peace efforts, Trump says. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-military-strikes-ukraine-undermine-peace-efforts-trump-says-2025-08-23/
[3] Associated Press. (2025). Trump, Zelenskyy Discuss Peace Agreement for Ukraine. [online] Available at: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-russia-europe-7d6ddd3c637c1d12e98a6c71d854a158
[4] The Guardian. (2025). Russia rejects NATO troop deployment in Ukraine. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/20/russia-rejects-nato-troop-deployment-in-ukraine
[5] Deutsche Welle. (2025). Merz: Germany has high responsibility for Ukraine's security. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/merz-germany-has-high-responsibility-for-ukraines-security/a-58722188
[6] France 24. (2025). Macron sees 'crucial' role for trilateral talks in resolving Ukraine conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.france24.com/en/europe/2025-08-19-macron-sees-crucial-role-for-trilateral-talks-in-resolving-ukraine-conflict
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