Trump Works to Broker Putin-Zelensky Meeting Amid War Talks

Trump Works to Broker Putin-Zelensky Meeting Amid War Talks

Trump Works to Broker Putin-Zelensky Meeting Amid War Talks

In Washington, a high-stakes round of diplomacy has been unfolding as President Donald Trump takes a central role in trying to end the Russia-Ukraine war. After meetings at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, Trump revealed that he is arranging a direct meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement came after a phone call Trump made to Putin during the talks, a move that European leaders had quietly coordinated but did not directly participate in.

The atmosphere in the White House was strikingly different from the tense exchanges that marked earlier encounters. Zelensky, who once drew criticism from Trump over his military-style clothing, appeared this time in a smart suit. Even small gestures seemed to underline a more cooperative tone, as he brought with him a personal letter from Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, thanking Melania Trump for speaking out about Ukrainian children taken by Russia. Melania had even penned a note to Putin, delivered by her husband, urging the protection of children caught in the war.

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At the core of the discussions were questions of security guarantees for Ukraine and how to create a framework that could eventually support peace. While European leaders strongly emphasized the need for a ceasefire before meaningful negotiations can happen, Trump focused on the broader goal of securing a deal. That position was echoed by the Kremlin, which has pushed for direct talks without preconditions. Zelensky admitted that his conversations with Trump even extended to debates over maps of territory currently held by Russian forces, highlighting how sensitive the issue of land remains.

For many of the European leaders in attendance—including those from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Commission—the White House gathering was both a show of unity and a recognition of the urgency in aligning with Washington’s push. Leaders described the talks as “constructive” and “optimistic,” though clear differences remained on how quickly a ceasefire should be established. Some underlined that weapons must fall silent before any summit can carry weight, while others credited Trump with breaking through diplomatic deadlock and moving negotiations forward.

Beyond Europe, the developments are being closely observed in Beijing. China, which has deepened economic ties with Moscow while maintaining an image of neutrality, sees Trump’s overtures as part of a shifting global balance. Analysts suggest China is gauging not only how far Putin is willing to go in negotiations but also what kind of security architecture might emerge in Europe—and how that could inform its own ambitions, particularly toward Taiwan.

What is clear is that momentum has been built. The path toward peace remains uncertain, but with Trump pressing for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky, world leaders now find themselves preparing for a potentially historic moment that could set the stage for either progress or renewed deadlock in one of the world’s most dangerous conflicts.

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