On Monday, US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and some of his key Western European backers for discussions at the White House. During the talks, Trump initiated arrangements for a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, following a phone call with Putin. He announced this proposal on his Truth Social platform, stating that the meeting would be held at a site to be determined, and would involve the two presidents and himself, forming a ‘Trilat.’
Trump emphasized that the talks aimed to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, which would be provided by various European countries with coordination from the United States of America. He described the meeting as a ‘very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.’ Trump also noted that ‘everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,’ highlighting the potential for a peace agreement through direct dialogue between the two leaders.
The proposal comes amid ongoing tensions in Eastern Europe, with the war in Ukraine continuing to impact global dynamics. While Trump’s suggestion has been met with cautious optimism, it remains unclear whether such a meeting would actually lead to concrete progress. The involvement of Western European backers suggests that the discussion is not just about bilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, but also involves broader multilateral considerations.