Washington, August 19, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has begun arranging a direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks, according to Trump, would be followed by a trilateral summit including all three leaders.
The announcement came after Trump hosted Zelensky and seven European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025. During the meeting, Trump briefly stepped out to hold a 40-minute phone call with Vladimir Putin, according to reports from Russian media cited by the BBC.
Putin Signals Willingness to Meet Zelensky
According to AFP, citing sources close to the discussions, Putin told Trump he was open to meeting the Ukrainian president. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov later confirmed to Russian state agency Tass that Trump and Putin had discussed “elevating direct negotiations” between Moscow and Kyiv.
“President Putin and President Trump expressed their support for continuing direct talks between Russia and Ukraine,” Ushakov stated.
Trump: Security Guarantees for Ukraine Under Discussion
On his platform Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. and European partners are working on potential security guarantees for Ukraine, coordinated between Washington and European capitals.
“Once this meeting between President Zelensky and President Putin takes place, we will organize a trilateral summit including both leaders and myself,” Trump wrote. He added that the first Putin–Zelensky meeting would be held at a location “yet to be determined.”
A Critical Diplomatic Moment
The planned summit marks a potential turning point in the Russia–Ukraine conflict, with the U.S. taking a leading role in facilitating dialogue. European leaders, who participated in the White House discussions, are expected to play a key role in shaping the framework for security assurances to Kyiv.
Key Takeaways
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Trump confirms preparations for a direct Zelensky–Putin meeting.
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Putin reportedly open to meeting his Ukrainian counterpart.
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Trilateral summit including Trump, Zelensky, and Putin expected to follow.
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Security guarantees for Ukraine discussed between the U.S. and European allies.
