During a high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders, former U.S. President Donald Trump paused proceedings to place a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed that Trump spoke with Putin for approximately 40 minutes. During their conversation, Trump outlined the framework for an upcoming meeting and proposed a trilateral meeting.
According to the plan, Putin and Zelensky will first meet face-to-face, followed by a trilateral meeting with Trump in attendance. A meeting between Putin and Zelensky is expected by the end of August. After the meeting with Zelensky and European leaders, Trump stated that he had called President Putin and that a meeting would soon take place between President Putin and President Zelensky, after which a trilateral meeting would occur, including both presidents and himself.
Trump emphasized that President Putin also genuinely desires to achieve something. He added that he anticipates seeing genuinely positive steps when they meet and that they would establish the framework for this during the current meeting.
In response, Ukrainian President Zelensky commented that their discussion with President Trump was positive and that the best was yet to come. They addressed sensitive issues, including security guarantees. Zelensky highlighted that Ukraine’s security depends on the United States and European nations. All sensitive issues and other matters will be discussed during the trilateral meeting, which Trump will strive to arrange.
Trump further indicated that the decision on whether the Russia-Ukraine war will continue or if peace will prevail would be made within two weeks. He stated that a ceasefire is not necessary to end the war, as it is merely a temporary solution. They are discussing a long-term peace agreement, and a peace treaty is more important than a ceasefire. His priority is to save people, and he is hopeful that the meeting will yield results.