Putin And Zelensky Poised For Peace Summit Following Trump’s Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are preparing for a potential peace summit, their first face-to-face encounter since the war began over three years ago. The development follows a series of high-level meetings in Washington, where Donald Trump hosted European leaders to discuss long-term security guarantees for Ukraine.

Trump, fresh from his meeting with Putin in Alaska, described his White House talks with European officials and Zelensky as “very good.” He revealed that he reached out to Putin afterward to begin arranging a direct meeting between the two leaders, though the timing and location are yet to be finalized.

Zelensky, speaking outside the White House, confirmed his readiness for such a dialogue. The Kremlin also indicated that Putin was open to direct talks. While the war remains largely stalled, with Russia making limited advances, the recent Trump-Putin discussions failed to secure an immediate ceasefire.

The White House gathering was notable for its strong European presence, with leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, the European Commission, and NATO showing a united front. Zelensky described his Oval Office meeting with Trump as “the best” they’ve had, contrasting with their tense and publicly hostile encounter earlier this year.

A key focus of the talks was how to guarantee Ukraine’s security. Trump said European nations would coordinate with the U.S. to provide these assurances, but Kyiv would have to abandon its long-standing ambition of joining NATO. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called the meeting “very successful,” highlighting Trump’s role in breaking previous deadlocks. Detailed negotiations are expected in the coming days.

Reports suggest Ukraine may agree to purchase around $100 billion worth of U.S. weapons, financed by European partners, in exchange for American security guarantees. Zelensky later mentioned a $90 billion figure and noted that the framework for these guarantees should be finalized within ten days.

Despite the momentum, caution remains among European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron urged tighter sanctions if Putin fails to show genuine commitment to peace. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb warned that Putin cannot be trusted, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Ukraine should not be pressured into giving up territory, comparing it to the U.S. being asked to surrender Florida.