U.S. administration has no set plans for a summit involving Putin, Trump, and Zelensky.
The political landscape of Eastern Europe is abuzz with the possibility of a historic three-way summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin, American President Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The proposed meeting, set to take place around August 22, 2025, was put forward by Trump following his talks with Putin and his meeting with Zelensky. However, it's important to note that Putin has yet to publicly commit to such a meeting, and as of now, the summit has not been confirmed [1].
If the summit does materialise, the main topics of discussion would revolve around achieving a peace deal to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. This would include Russia's maximalist claims involving Ukraine's withdrawal from the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the freezing of front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and finding a compromise acceptable to both sides. The U.S.'s role in supporting Ukraine and pushing for a negotiated peace would also be key points [1][2].
However, the realisation of this trilateral summit remains uncertain, with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stating that no meeting is currently planned between Putin and Zelensky [3].
Meanwhile, the U.S. administration is considering the possibility of a high-level meeting with Putin, Trump, and Zelensky. The upcoming talks between Trump and Zelensky in Washington on August 18 are scheduled, and it's expected that key international issues and the situation in Ukraine will be discussed during their talks.
In a recent statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that the U.S. will not put pressure on Kiev to resolve territorial disputes. This stance aligns with Zelensky's readiness to discuss the territorial issue within a three-way meeting with Putin and Trump, although it's unclear if the meeting will be in a three-way format with Putin's participation [4].
The territorial issues in Ukraine are a matter of constitutional concern, with the Ukrainian state not having the constitutional provision to make concessions on territorial issues [5]. This constitutional limitation has been highlighted in relation to the current situation, and the Ukrainian state head has made a statement about the territorial issues in relation to the Constitution of Ukraine [6].
Zelensky has emphasised that such an important topic should only be discussed at the level of Ukrainian and Russian leaders with the mediation of the United States in a three-way format. It's clear that the final decision on the high-level meeting will depend on the results of the personal talks between Trump and Zelensky.
In conclusion, while the prospect of a three-way summit between Putin, Trump, and Zelensky is an exciting development, much remains uncertain. The success of any potential summit will depend on the willingness of all parties to find a compromise and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
[1] The Guardian [2] CNN [3] RT [4] Reuters [5] The Kyiv Independent [6] RT
War-and-conflicts are expected to dominate the three-way summit discussions, should it take place between Putin, Trump, and Zelensky. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, particularly the territorial disputes in Donetsk and Luhansk, is a key issue that will likely be center-stage during the talks.
Politics and general news outlets have been closely following the possibility of this three-way summit, as its successful outcome could potentially lead to a decisive resolution in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
