Is Trump Planning a Trilateral Summit with Zelensky and Putin by August 22?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trump aims to organize a trilateral summit with Zelensky and Putin by August 22.
- The meeting follows a productive discussion between Trump and Putin.
- Peace negotiations may involve ceding the Donbass region to Russia.
- European leaders are invited to join the discussions.
- A ceasefire and security guarantees are part of the proposed negotiations.
Washington, Aug 17 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has informed European leaders after his discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin that he aims to organize a trilateral summit with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as early as August 22, according to reports from US media.
Zelensky mentioned in a post on X on Saturday that he will meet Trump in Washington on Monday.
Trump has also extended an invitation to European leaders to attend the White House meeting on the same day, as noted by the online news source Axios.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Saturday that a trilateral summit is anticipated to follow the meeting between Zelensky and Trump, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Currently, the Russian side has not made any public commitment regarding the trilateral meeting.
A US newspaper previously reported, citing sources, that following his conversation with Putin, the US leader proposed negotiating a peace agreement under which Ukraine would cede the remaining parts of the Donbass region to Russia, including areas not yet reclaimed by Russian forces, in a call with European leaders, according to Russian news agency Tass.
A ceasefire in ongoing conflict zones across Ukraine and security assurances for both Kyiv and Europe would be provided in exchange, Tass reported.
On August 15, Trump and Putin convened at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Alaska.
Their discussions spanned nearly three hours, featuring a one-on-one dialogue in the American leader's limousine en route to the primary negotiation site, followed by a small-group discussion with three participants from each side.
The Russian delegation included Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while the American delegation was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Following their discussions, Putin stated that the primary focus was on resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump characterized his summit with Putin as “very productive”.
Subsequently, he contacted Zelensky, EU leaders, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
After the summit and the phone calls, Trump indicated that Ukraine and Russia should promptly negotiate a final peace agreement as he retracted his demand for a ceasefire.
Trump and Zelensky are set to meet in the White House on Monday.
The US leader remarked that if the discussions with Zelensky yield positive results, another meeting with Putin will be arranged.