The White House is in the midst of a significant diplomatic effort to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the negotiating table. Officials confirmed Tuesday that arrangements are being made for a bilateral meeting aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, with President Donald Trump driving the initiative.
According to the administration, Putin agreed to the meeting in a phone call with Trump. This development came on the heels of meetings in Washington between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European allies. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that the U.S. is working diligently with both sides and that Putin has consented to meet within the next two weeks.
Despite the White House’s assertive stance, Russia’s public comments have been more circumspect. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow is open to discussions but stressed that a meeting of national leaders requires “utmost thoroughness” in its preparation. This cautious approach suggests that the path to a summit may not be as straightforward as Washington hopes.
President Trump expressed a mix of optimism and realism, speculating that Putin might be weary of the conflict but also acknowledging the risk that no deal will be made. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is prepared to enter the talks, focusing on the future of Russian-held Ukrainian territory as a primary topic for his one-on-one with Putin. Simultaneously, discussions on post-war security guarantees for Ukraine are advancing with NATO and other international partners.