In a move that interrupted a high-level gathering with Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders, former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 40 minutes. The Kremlin confirmed the conversation, noting that Trump used the call to discuss the framework of an upcoming meeting and propose a trilateral summit.
The plan includes an initial meeting between Zelensky and Putin, followed by a trilateral meeting with Trump. A meeting between Putin and Zelensky is expected to occur by the end of August. Following the meeting with Zelensky and European leaders, Trump stated that he had called President Putin and that a meeting would be held soon between President Putin and President Zelensky, followed by a trilateral meeting, with the participation of all three leaders.
Trump expressed that President Putin is also keen to make progress. He added that he expects to see positive steps when they meet and that they will finalize the plans during the current discussions.
Zelensky stated that their conversation with Trump was very productive and that they discussed the important matter of security guarantees, emphasizing that Ukraine’s security depends on the support of the United States and European countries. The trilateral meeting would address all sensitive issues.
Trump also suggested that the decision regarding the continuation of the war between Russia and Ukraine will be made within the next two weeks. He asserted that a ceasefire is not a final solution and that he is focused on achieving a long-term peace agreement. He prioritized saving lives and hoped the meeting would be productive.