US President Donald Trump said Monday that arrangements are underway for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet face-to-face, calling it a “very good, early step” toward ending the nearly four-year-old war. Speaking after a high-level gathering at the White House with European leaders, NATO officials and Ukraine’s president, Trump declared that peace talks could be edging closer. Among those present were French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. After the meeting Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Putin-Zelensky meeting set within 2 weeks and location still undecided.
Putin-Zelensky meeting set within 2 WEEKS — Germany’s Merz
— RT (@RT_com) August 18, 2025
Location still undecided
Russian and Ukrainian leaders to meet Trump afterward https://t.co/cwj8NdeuRL pic.twitter.com/yYZinhnQCn
"At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trumpe added.
#WATCH | Washington, DC | US President Donald Trump says, "You'll see that President Putin really would want to do something also... When we meet up, I think you will see some really positive moves... We will set that up after today's meeting..."
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2025
Source: The White House/… pic.twitter.com/DZegwY5sAI
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Donald Trump to exert "peace through strength" against Russia, echoing the US leader's own language ahead of a high-stakes White House meeting. "Russia can only be forced into peace through strength, and President Trump has that strength. We have to do everything right to make peace happen," Zelensky wrote on X.
Newsinc24 Team





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