Zelenskyy, Trump specific hope for trilateral talks with Putin

[ad_1] WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he has begun preparations for a face-to-face assembly between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to debate a pathway to finish Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The president made the announcement shortly after talking by cellphone with Putin on Monday as he hosted Zelenskyy and top European leaders to debate his push to finish the brutal warfare. The talks got here amid a major measure of trepidation on the continent that Trump is urgent Ukraine to make concessions that may solely additional embolden Putin.

“I referred to as President Putin, and started the preparations for a gathering, at a location to be decided, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump mentioned in a social media publish quickly after prolonged talks with Zelenskyy and the European leaders ended. “After that assembly takes place, we may have a Trilat, which might be the 2 Presidents, plus myself. Once more, this was an excellent, early step for a Struggle that has been occurring for nearly 4 years.”

It was not clear if Putin has absolutely signed on to such talks.

Russia state information company Tass cited Putin’s international affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov saying Putin and Trump “spoke in favor” of constant direct talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations. Ushakov mentioned additionally they mentioned “the thought of elevating the extent of the direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations.”

Zelenskyy advised reporters following the White Home assembly that if Russia does “not show a will to satisfy, then we'll ask america to behave accordingly.”

NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte, who attended the White Home talks, added in an look on Fox Information that “if Russia shouldn't be taking part in ball” on direct talks with Ukraine “america plus Europe will do extra with regards to tariffs and sanctions” on Moscow.

Zelenskyy beforehand had mentioned he needed Russia to comply with a ceasefire earlier than any assembly between himself and Putin, however he mentioned Monday that if the Ukrainians began setting situations, the Russians would do the identical.

“That’s why I imagine that we should meet with none situations, and take into consideration what improvement there will be of this path to the tip of warfare,” Zelenskyy mentioned.

Earlier, Trump mentioned during talks with Zelenskyy and the European leaders {that a} potential ceasefire and who will get Ukrainian territory seized by Russia needs to be hashed out throughout a face-to-face assembly between the warring international locations’ two leaders.

“We’re going to let the president go over and discuss to the president and we’ll see how that works out,” Trump mentioned.

That was a shift from feedback Trump made quickly after assembly Putin final week wherein he appeared to tilt towards Putin’s calls for that Ukraine make concessions over land seized by Russia, which now controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Questions on US and NATO involvement Trump additionally introduced on Monday he would again European safety ensures for Ukraine as he met with Zelenskyy and the leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Finland, in addition to the president of the European Fee and the pinnacle of NATO.

Trump stopped wanting committing U.S. troops to a collective effort to bolster Ukraine’s safety. He mentioned as a substitute that there can be a “NATO-like” safety presence and that each one these particulars can be hashed out with EU leaders.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Road in London, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Picture/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Learn Extra

Zelenskyy is welcomed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon arrival within the backyard of the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Aug. 13, 2025. (John MacDougall/Pool Picture by way of AP)

Learn Extra

“They need to give safety they usually really feel very strongly about it and we’ll assist them out with that,” Trump mentioned.

Zelenskyy mentioned deep U.S. involvement within the rising safety ensures is essential.

“It's important that america make a transparent sign, specifically that they are going to be among the many international locations that may assist to coordinate and in addition will take part in safety ensures for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy mentioned.

Talking Monday earlier than the White Home conferences befell, Russia’s Overseas Ministry rejected the thought of a potential NATO peacekeeping drive in Ukraine. Such a state of affairs may result in additional escalation and “unpredictable penalties,” ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned.

Trump’s engagement with Zelenskyy had a strikingly totally different really feel to their final Oval Workplace assembly in February. It was a disastrous second that led to Trump abruptly ending talks with the Ukrainian delegation, and briefly pausing some assist for Kyiv, after he and Vice President JD Vance complained that Zelenskyy had proven inadequate gratitude for U.S. navy help.

In the beginning of Monday’s assembly, Zelenskyy offered a letter from his spouse, Olena Zelenska, for Trump’s spouse, Melania. Trump in the course of the Alaska summit had hand-delivered a letter to Putin from the U.S. first woman urging him to contemplate the kids impacted by the battle and convey an finish to the brutal 3 1/2 yr warfare.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks throughout a media convention at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Picture)

Learn Extra

AP AUDIO: Zelenskyy brings Europe’s prime leaders with him to satisfy Trump on ending Russia’s warfare

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani studies on a unprecedented present of diplomatic drive on the White Home at this time, with a go to by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.

Zelenskyy confronted criticism throughout his February assembly from a conservative journalist for showing within the Oval Workplace in a long-sleeve T-shirt. This time he appeared in a dark jacket and buttoned shirt. Zelenskyy has mentioned his usually much less formal apparel because the begin of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 is to point out solidarity with Ukrainian troopers.

“We’ll see in a sure time frame, not very removed from now, every week or two weeks, we’re going to know whether or not or not we’re going to unravel this or is that this horrible preventing going to proceed,” Trump mentioned.

European leaders arrived in Washington trying to safeguard Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow.

Forward of Monday’s assembly, Trump urged that Ukraine couldn't regain Crimea , which Russia annexed in 2014, setting off an armed battle that led to its broader 2022 invasion.

Zelenskyy in his personal publish late Sunday, responded, “All of us share a powerful want to finish this warfare rapidly and reliably.” He mentioned “peace should be lasting,” not because it was after Russia seized Crimea and a part of the Donbas in japanese Ukraine eight years in the past and “Putin merely used it as a springboard for a brand new assault.”

European heavyweights in Washington European leaders urged forging a brief ceasefire shouldn't be off the desk. Following his assembly with Putin on Friday, Trump dropped his demand for a right away ceasefire and mentioned he would look to safe a ultimate peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine — a sudden shift to a position favored by Putin .

In the beginning of Monday’s assembly, the German and French leaders praised Trump for opening a path to peace, however they urged the U.S. president to push Russia for a ceasefire.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proper, and President Donald Trump, discuss as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican, Saturday, April 26, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Workplace by way of AP)

Learn Extra

“I want to see a ceasefire from the following assembly, which needs to be a trilateral assembly,” mentioned German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Trump, for his half, reiterated {that a} broader, war-ending peace settlement between the 2 international locations is “very attainable,” however “all of us would clearly favor the rapid ceasefire whereas we work on an enduring peace.”

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to talk after attending a video convention with members of the so-called “coalition of the keen”, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025 on the Fort de Bregancon in Bormes-les-Mimosas, southern France. (AP Picture/Philippe Magoni, Pool)

Learn Extra

—- Kullab reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Related Press writers Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington, Farnoush Amiri in New York, Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, John Leicester in Le Pecq, France, Illia Novikov in Kyiv and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia and Nicole Winfield in Rome, contributed reporting.

window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : '870613919693099', xfbml : true, version : 'v2.9' }); };

(function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); [ad_2] Source link