Former U.S. President Donald Trump interrupted a high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders to hold a 40-minute phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin released details of the call, revealing that Trump discussed plans for a future meeting and proposed a trilateral summit.
The proposed plan involves a preliminary face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin, followed by a trilateral meeting with Trump’s participation. The meeting between Putin and Zelensky is anticipated to occur by the end of August. After the meeting with the Ukrainian and European leaders, Trump said that he had contacted President Putin, and a meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky would soon be scheduled, to be followed by a trilateral meeting with all three leaders present.
Trump indicated that President Putin also wants to achieve a positive outcome. He added that he expects to witness positive steps when they meet and that they will establish the framework for the upcoming meeting during the current discussion.
President Zelensky noted that their conversation with Trump was positive, emphasizing that their discussions included crucial aspects related to security guarantees. He mentioned that Ukraine’s security relies on support from the United States and European countries. The trilateral meeting will serve as a platform for addressing all sensitive matters.
Trump also stated that the decision on the Russia-Ukraine war’s future—whether it will persist or conclude—will be made within two weeks. He believes a ceasefire is not the ultimate solution. His primary focus is on reaching a long-term peace agreement. He stressed the importance of a peace treaty over a ceasefire, aiming to save lives, with hopes that the meeting would be fruitful.