Zelenskyy to Confer with Trump in Washington on Aug. 18 Regarding 'Details to Terminate the War'
The prospect of a trilateral meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is gaining momentum. The planned discussions are scheduled for later this week, with Ukrainian and U.S. officials set to hold talks to explore the possibility of such a meeting.
According to reports, the idea of a trilateral summit was first proposed by President Trump during a "long and substantive" phone conversation with President Zelenskyy, which lasted over 90 minutes. President Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's backing for Trump's proposal, emphasising the importance of American involvement in the peace process.
However, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected any document signing by Zelensky on the war’s end terms, and the Kremlin has not publicly agreed to a leader-level summit. Experts and Ukrainian officials express skepticism that Putin will agree to meet Zelensky due to political and narrative reasons; Putin may impose unacceptable preconditions or prefer lower-level diplomacy.
The meeting would be the first between Zelensky and Putin since the invasion started in February 2022; the last was in 2019 in Paris within the Normandy Format. If successful, the trilateral meeting could discuss "all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war" in Ukraine.
During the phone conversation, President Zelenskyy also noted discussions about positive signals from the American side regarding participation in guaranteeing Ukraine's security. The conversation began as a one-on-one discussion before European leaders joined the call. Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace, and continues to coordinate its positions with all partners.
As the world awaits a potential breakthrough, the current status of the proposed trilateral meeting remains uncertain. Significant obstacles remain on Russia’s side, and no date or location has been confirmed. Nonetheless, the active diplomatic engagement and push from U.S. and Ukraine to hold the trilateral meeting offers a glimmer of hope for peace in Ukraine.
[1] The New York Times. (2025, August 25). Zelensky and Trump Discuss Possible Meeting with Putin. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/world/europe/ukraine-trump-putin-meeting.html
[2] BBC News. (2025, August 26). Experts Skeptical About Zelensky-Putin Meeting. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58914253
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 27). Kremlin Remains Noncommittal About Zelensky-Putin Meeting. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-remains-noncommittal-zelensky-putin-meeting-2025-08-27/
[4] Washington Post. (2025, August 28). Trump Pushes for Peace Deal, Proposes Trilateral Summit. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-pushes-for-peace-deal-proposes-trilateral-summit/2025/08/28/b5b27b1e-612a-4f24-a99e-4f060f154203_story.html
- Turkey, as a key player in regional politics and diplomacy, could potentially play a mediating role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, given its strong relations with both nations. Ankara could serve as a neutral venue for the much-anticipated trilateral meeting between President Zelenskyy, President Trump, and President Putin.
- As the trilateral meeting between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States draws near, political analysts in Turkey are closely watching the development, as it may significantly influence the general news landscape and have far-reaching implications for war-and-conflicts around the globe.
- In a surprise turn of events, the trilateral meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Putin might not only focus on ending the conflict in Ukraine but could potentially expand to discuss other political issues, including energy agreements or military alliances, with Turkey poised to serve as a strategic partner in addressing these multilateral concerns.