Trump Initiates Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting After White House Summit with Seven European Leaders

Washington, D.C. – Following a significant gathering at the White House, former President Donald Trump announced that he has begun arrangements for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement came after Trump's discussions with Zelenskyy and seven European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on August 18. This development signals a potential shift in the diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The high-level summit saw President Zelenskyy joined by an extraordinary delegation of European leaders, underscoring a united front in seeking clarity on Trump's peace initiatives. The discussions followed Trump's recent meeting with Putin in Alaska, which left European allies anxious about potential concessions Ukraine might be pressured to make. The leaders aimed to understand the parameters of any proposed peace deal and to solidify security guarantees for Ukraine.

During the talks, the possibility of "Article 5-like language" for Ukraine's security was discussed, a reference to NATO's mutual defense clause. While the U.S. has ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, the concept of robust security assurances was a key point of negotiation. European leaders expressed support for a ceasefire, though Trump's position on an immediate cessation of hostilities appeared to evolve during the day.

Amidst these diplomatic efforts, journalist Josh Wingrove noted that Trump made "a couple of posts this afternoon" on social media, following his calls with the European leaders and Zelenskyy. In these posts, Trump reportedly commented on media coverage, stating, > "There is NOTHING I can say or do that would lead them to write or report honestly about me." He also referenced his meeting with Putin, calling it a "great meeting in Alaska on Biden’s stupid War, a war that should have never happened!!!"

The White House meeting marked a notably more cordial tone between Trump and Zelenskyy compared to their previous contentious encounter in February. The presence of a broad European delegation demonstrated a collective resolve to support Ukraine and influence the peace process. The proposed trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin suggests a direct and high-stakes approach to de-escalation, though the timeline and location remain undetermined.