Trump's conversation with Putin documented through a White House photo release
In a significant diplomatic move, President Donald Trump facilitated a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 19, 2025. The call, which took place in the Oval Office, marked a milestone in efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump emphasized the urgency of action, stating that the situation required immediate attention "TONIGHT." He conveyed to Putin that they would arrange a bilateral meeting between the two leaders to foster direct dialogue, as the two had not previously established a cooperative relationship.
The conversation was not the first time Trump had been involved in diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine. Earlier that day, he had held talks with Zelensky and European leaders, including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
During the call, the parties discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, which would be provided by various European countries in coordination with the US. The idea was also discussed to explore the possibility of increasing the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides in the direct talks.
In a photo circulating online, Trump is seen in the Oval Office, on the phone with Putin. Another photo, posted on social media X, shows Trump in a more light-hearted moment, showing off his collection of baseball caps to Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following the call, Trump continued efforts to broker peace but expressed frustration at ongoing Russian strikes on Ukraine. He remained cautiously hopeful about reaching a peace deal but noted the unpredictability of the war. Parallel to this, U.S. officials were working toward establishing security guarantees for Ukraine, described as a "work in progress."
A high-ranking official in the Trump administration announced the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky in Hungary. According to Yuri Ushakov, President Trump initiated the phone call, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the meeting will take place within the next two weeks.
Trump described the call and the subsequent negotiations as "very productive," and a meeting between Trump and Zelensky was shown in a photo released by the White House. Trump had previously announced the conversation on his social media page, Truth Social, and stated that he had begun preparations for a three-way meeting.
As the diplomatic efforts continue, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
