United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will call Russian President Vladimir Putin, shortly after his meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to him, if the meeting in Washington has significant advances, there is a possibility to set a trilateral meeting with the two leaders to discuss the terms of a peace agreement.
“Putin is waiting for my call when we finish this meeting. There is a reasonable chance that this negotiation will advance. If everything works well today, we will have a trilateral meeting,” Trump said in the White House Oval Hall in joint conference with Zelensky.
Despite signaling willingness to organize the summit, Trump did not indicate when or where it could happen. The Republican just stressed that the decision depends on the immediate result of conversations with the Ukrainian leader and a telephone call that will make Putin next.
Monday’s meeting takes place amid intense efforts to end the war started in February 2022. Trump received Zelensky for a conversation to closed doors and then made room for a second round of negotiations with European leaders. Both meetings were classified by the White House as determinants for the direction of the conflict.
According to Trump, the meeting with Zelensky already had signals of advance early on. “We have had a very successful day so far,” the US president said before he even called Putin. The expectation of the Republican is that the telephone conversation will open the way to a joint table between the three countries.
Zelensky said he was prepared for a face to face with Putin, something he has been defending in recent weeks. Asked if he would accept to redesign the Ukraine map, he replied that one must find a diplomatic solution to end the war, but stressed that he does not intend to give up territories.
The Ukrainian President emphasized that the country lives under daily attacks and that it is urgent to interrupt the bombing. “We are ready for a trilateral, as the president said. This is a good sign. We need to stop this war to stop Russia,” he said.
Trump insisted that the search is not for temporary but lasting peace. “If we don’t have a trilateral, the fight continues. If we have, we have a good chance to end the war. We don’t want a two -year peace and then we get back to this confusion,” he said.
The Republican also stressed that Ukraine will have security guarantees if an agreement advances. “They are the first line of defense because they are there. They are part of Europe, but we will help them too. We will be involved, we will give very good protection,” he said.
The possible trilateral meeting comes days after Trump met Putin in Alaska. The meeting did not result in ceasefire, but made room for Moscow to present proposals, including the maintenance of Russian control over Crimea and parts of Donbas. Kiev immediately rejected.
International diplomats evaluate that Trump’s connection to Putin will be a test about Kremlin’s real interest in participating in a joint table with Zelensky. According to analysts, there is skepticism about Putin’s willingness to share political space with the Ukrainian President, whom he continues to call illegitimate.
Still, Trump showed confidence. “I think the whole world is tired of this war, and we will end it. If all goes well today, we will have a trilateral meeting,” he said, reinforcing the expectation that the call to the Russian President will be the next step in the process.
