Trump contemplates a three-way summit involving Putin and Zelenskyy
In a recent development, US President Donald Trump has announced plans for a three-way meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following his summit with Putin in Alaska. This proposed meeting is aimed at ending the three-year war in Ukraine.
The initial plan was for a trilateral meeting between the three leaders, but Trump later shifted to arranging a bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin before any trilateral summit could occur. Trump emphasized that the two leaders need to build some relationship first, saying, "It only matters if we get things done." If the bilateral meeting goes well, a trilateral meeting could follow.
Trump met Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House shortly after his summit with Putin, expressing optimism about peace prospects and committing to help with security guarantees for Ukraine. He conveyed a sense of urgency, rejecting delays that could cost more lives and pushing for the leaders to meet "tonight" rather than months later.
However, Russia has been skeptical. Moscow has not confirmed that Putin will meet Zelenskyy and insisted on having a key role in any security guarantees for Ukraine, demanding a veto over Ukraine’s future security arrangements. Putin also views Zelenskyy as an illegitimate leader because Ukraine has not held elections due to martial law, complicating direct talks. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, opposes any territorial concessions and maintains that Ukraine must decide its own borders per its constitution.
Trump has given a roughly two-week timeframe to see if a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting could happen before deciding on next steps such as imposing new sanctions or tariffs, or potentially stepping back from involvement. He called it "a very important decision."
The proposed meeting comes amidst heightened fears as Russian forces have made their biggest advance into Ukraine in more than a year. Zelenskyy and his European allies have urged Trump to push for a ceasefire. The exact location for the second meeting has not been specified.
Trump threatened "secondary sanctions" on Russia's trading partners over its invasion of Ukraine, but no measures have been announced yet. It is also worth noting that Zelenskyy has not been invited to the summit in Anchorage, Alaska.
In summary, the proposed meeting to end the Ukraine conflict initially involved a trilateral summit between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy. However, Trump later shifted to arranging a bilateral meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin. Trump is acting as a facilitator, pushing for immediate meetings, and promising support for Ukrainian security guarantees. Russia, on the other hand, has been cold on talks, demanding a veto over security guarantees and denying meeting confirmation. The Ukrainian stance is clear: they oppose territorial concessions and maintain that Ukraine must decide its own borders. The exact date and location for the second meeting have not been specified yet. This reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts, with optimism from the US side but significant hurdles on the Russian side preventing concrete peace talks to date.
Politics and general news continue to focus on war-and-conflicts, as a proposed meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin is being discussed. The meeting, aimed at ending the three-year war in Ukraine, is being facilitated by US President Donald Trump, who is committing to help with security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Russia has been skeptical, and the exact date and location for the meeting have not been specified yet.
