Trump Discloses Arrangement of a Scheduled Consultation between Himself and Zelensky, with Putin's Involvement
The White House has announced plans for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss ending the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
According to reports, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine for the upcoming meeting. The exact time and location of the meeting have yet to be determined.
Recently, President Donald Trump met with European leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz, at the White House. During this meeting, Trump discussed the possibility of a NATO-like security presence for Ukraine, to be discussed with European Union leaders.
Following the meeting with European leaders, Trump met with Zelensky at the White House and later held a summit with Putin at a U.S. military base in Alaska. Trump called Putin to begin arrangements for the meeting between Putin and Zelensky, with the intention of having a Trilat (a meeting of the two presidents and Trump) following the initial meeting.
Zelensky has emphasized that security guarantees and the return of Ukrainian prisoners are key to ending the Russia-Ukraine war. He has also expressed a desire for a meeting with Putin as a means to end the conflict.
Despite these peace efforts, Russian strikes on Ukraine continue. Trump has expressed frustration with Putin's actions and there are reports of Ukraine using its own weapons without consulting Washington over certain strikes.
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that no meeting between Putin and Zelensky is planned because the agenda is not ready. However, Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, supports continuing talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war.
Robert B. Murrett, a professor of practice of international affairs at Syracuse University, agrees with Zelensky's position not to concede Ukraine's claims of Crimea and other regions Russia claims to have annexed. Trump has also suggested the possibility of "land swaps" between Russia and Ukraine, but Putin has not offered to give up any Russian land as part of a deal.
Zelensky arrived at the White House flanked by European leaders to show support for the Ukrainian leader. In a positive note, Zelensky stated that his conversation with Trump was the best one and that future conversations may be even better.
In conclusion, while there are discussions and interests in a potential meeting, no specific details or confirmations have been made regarding a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky. The hope remains that these talks will lead to a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
- The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been a frequent topic in general-news and war-and-conflicts news, with the latest being the announced meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky to discuss ending the war.
- The meeting, coordinated by Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Special Envoy Witkoff, may lead to significant policy-and-legislation and politics shifts, as Trump has proposed a NATO-like security presence for Ukraine and suggested "land swaps" between Russia and Ukraine.
- However, the planned meeting is uncertain due to Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov's statement that no meeting is planned, despite Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, supporting continued talks to end the war.
- As the news of continuing Russian strikes on Ukraine and Ukraine using its own weapons without consulting Washington unfolds, the importance of ending the conflict through diplomatic means cannot be overstated, as emphasized by Zelensky.
