Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday confirmed that he had discussed a potential trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, which could take place as early as next week. The initiative followed a call with Trump, where Zelenskyy echoed Trump’s previous comments on the matter and also coordinated with European leaders. Zelenskyy, in a post on X, called on Putin to ‘be brave’ and take the meeting, emphasizing Ukraine’s readiness for dialogue and the urgency to end the war.
The discussion came after months of efforts by the Trump administration to bring Putin to the table, although the Russian leader has so far refused. Reports from Russian state media indicated that Putin was open to the idea, but added that ‘conditions must be created for negotiations to take place.’ According to a Telegram post by the Russian state news agency RIA, these ‘conditions’ were ‘far from being created,’ suggesting that the Kremlin continues to resist the notion of a trilateral meeting. Trump’s foreign policy advisor mentioned that the idea was ‘mentioned’ but ‘not discussed’ during recent talks with Putin, and the focus remained on bilateral discussions.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stated that he had also engaged in discussions with both German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron to ensure that Europe’s interests were represented in any U.S.-Russia-Ukraine conversations. He emphasized the need for a ‘common European view’ on key security issues, which he believes are crucial for both the current and long-term stability of Europe. Germany and France have taken on a leading role in addressing the war in Ukraine and protecting Europe’s interests since Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. The U.K. has also been at the forefront of these discussions, though it remains unclear whether Zelens, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, had been involved in the trilateral meeting discussions.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, the situation remains complex, with both sides showing reluctance to compromise. The outcome of these discussions will have significant implications for the future of the conflict and the possibility of a peaceful resolution. As the U.S. and its allies continue to apply pressure on Russia, the role of European nations remains critical in shaping the trajectory of this international crisis.