The White House has announced that intensive planning is underway for a landmark meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The direct talks, aimed at negotiating an end to the devastating war in Ukraine, are expected to take place within the coming days. This development marks a significant step in what the administration is calling “the next phase of the peace process.”
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Putin’s agreement to the bilateral meeting was secured during a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. This call followed a series of high-level discussions in Washington involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and leaders from European and NATO countries. The U.S. is actively working with both Moscow and Kyiv to finalize the logistics for this crucial summit.
While the White House projects confidence, with Leavitt confirming Putin has agreed to meet within the next two weeks, Moscow’s official statements remain more measured. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that while Russia doesn’t reject peace talks, any summit between national leaders must be “prepared with utmost thoroughness.” This suggests that a number of details still need to be ironed out before the leaders can meet face-to-face.
President Trump has publicly expressed his hope for a peaceful resolution, suggesting that Putin may be “tired” of the conflict. However, he also acknowledged the possibility that the Russian leader might not be ready to make a deal, a scenario that would create a “rough situation.” Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has stated he is “ready” to meet Putin to directly discuss the critical issue of Ukrainian territory currently under Russian control.