Trump Announces Push for Putin-Zelenskyy Summit After High-Stakes DC Meetings
Trump Announces Push for Putin-Zelenskyy Summit After High-Stakes DC Meetings
Following critical talks in Washington involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Donald Trump has announced efforts to arrange a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump, who hosted the White House discussions, further suggested a subsequent trilateral summit involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy.
The declaration came after a day of intense diplomatic exchanges on August 18, 2025, where European allies, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, pressed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. While Trump initially appeared to rule out a ceasefire, stating it’s “not happening as of this moment,” he later emphasized his pursuit of broader peace deals.
Key outcomes from the Washington summit include Ukraine’s reported proposal to purchase $100 billion in US weapons, financed by Europe, in exchange for US security guarantees. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed readiness for a bilateral meeting with Putin and anticipates formal security guarantees from partners within the next 10 days. However, Finnish President Alexander Stubb voiced skepticism about Putin’s trustworthiness, while the Kremlin’s aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed Putin’s openness only to the “idea” of direct talks, not necessarily a high-level meeting immediately.
European leaders maintained a unified front, with Macron advocating for increased sanctions against Russia if peace efforts falter and insisting on a robust, unrestricted Ukrainian military. Merz firmly stated that Ukraine should not be forced to cede its Donbas region, likening it to the US surrendering a state, and confirmed Trump’s willingness to offer security guarantees in coordination with Europeans.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.