A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for August 15th. This meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Prior to the meeting, Trump issued a stern warning to Russia, stating that if Putin fails to agree to a ceasefire, there will be serious repercussions. Trump also mentioned the potential for a second meeting with the Russian President, possibly including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Before the Trump-Putin meeting, President Zelenskyy spoke with European leaders and Trump. Following the discussions, Zelenskyy indicated that the United States is prepared to offer its support and informed the U.S. President that Putin is ‘deceiving’ regarding the impact of sanctions.
European leaders have come out in open support of Zelenskyy before the Putin-Trump meeting. German Chancellor Merz emphasized the priority of securing a ceasefire, further suggesting that Ukraine’s allies should increase pressure on Russia if it doesn’t comply.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged continued support for Ukraine and thanked Trump for attempting to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Despite the global anticipation surrounding the Trump-Putin meeting, the specific terms of a potential ceasefire remain unclear. Experts suggest that Putin might demand the concession of some Russian territory in exchange for a ceasefire, while the Ukrainian President has rejected any notion of ceding even an inch of Ukrainian land.
On the ground, Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory. This is not the first attempt at peace talks. Previously, officials held meetings in Ankara, Turkey, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss a ceasefire. It remains to be seen whether Trump can broker a ceasefire or if this effort will fail as well.