Washington — President Trump is making efforts to put together a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking the first face-to-face encounter between them since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over three years ago.
Speaking to Fox & Friends on Tuesday about the possibility of this meeting, Trump mentioned his approach: letting Putin and Zelenskyy have their first conversation without instantly stepping in, as they “haven’t been exactly best friends” during the conflict.
“I hope President Putin behaves,” he said, adding the situation could turn problematic if he doesn’t. Trump expressed optimism that Zelenskyy would handle negotiations well but emphasized that flexibility on all sides is necessary.
This push for dialogue comes on the heels of a remarkable day of meetings at the White House, involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, where they highlighted the critical need for security guarantees in a peace agreement. Trump indicated that the U.S. might coordinate significantly in this regard with allies.
Eyes are now set on the anticipated summit between Putin and Zelenskyy. After Monday’s discussions, Trump reached out to Putin to discuss setting up the influential meeting, which the Russian leader reportedly accepted eagerly, even late at night in Russia. Trump described the conversation as a “very good call.”
“I informed him that a meeting with Zelenskyy is on the way, and if all goes smoothly, I would follow up with my own involvement, and that is key,” he explained, emphasizing that strong relationships are vital for productive dialogue: “It’s a collaboration, not just a unidirectional conversation.”
Shortly after leaving the White House, Zelenskyy spoke to CBS News, noting that while a date is still pending, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested it might occur in the next two weeks. In a post on X, Zelenskyy remarked that the discussions in Washington marked “a significant step forward in concluding the war and ensuring safety for Ukraine and its people.”
He mentioned that they are already busy fleshing out the details of these security guarantees. “We’re maintaining our coordination at the leadership level and setting up the necessary discussions,” said Zelenskyy.
A spokesperson for Russia stated that high-level discussions are scheduled but refrained from confirming Putin’s attendance. Trump, who had a recent meeting with Putin in Alaska, stressed the urgency of the negotiations, warning that delays could result in more lives lost. During a conversation captured by a hot mic with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump said, “Putin wants to cut a deal with me.”
On the Fox show, he expressed surprise that Zelenskyy and Putin seem to be somewhat improving their interactions, reiterating that it should be their choice on how to proceed.
“We’ll see what happens with President Putin in the upcoming weeks, and where this all leads,” Trump remarked. He expressed that it is possible Putin may not aim for a deal at all.
Simultaneously, securing guarantees for Ukraine emerged as a priority. Zelenskyy highlighted this as a “foundation for ending the conflict.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the U.S. will collaborate with its European allies to secure these guarantees post-conflict but refrained from going into further specifics. Macron indicated that discussions regarding U.S. contributions could commence as soon as the following day.
When questioning the nature of security guarantees, Trump mentioned that European leaders are ready to deploy aid and that the U.S. would support them in various capacities, particularly through aerial assistance, showcasing America’s superior technological capabilities. He reduced concerns of complications, insistent that their security arrangements will eventually materialize.
“There will certainly be some kind of security measures in place,” Trump asserted, albeit pausing on NATO’s role: “NATO isn’t something that we would ever explore for this situation. That concept is off the table according to our discussions.”
