Reports indicate a potential trilateral meeting hinges on the success of Monday’s discussion with the Ukrainian president.
According to Axios and CNN, President Trump is reportedly aiming for a trilateral summit involving himself, Ukrainian President Zelensky, and Russian President Putin possibly as soon as next week. The reports suggest this meeting is contingent on the outcome of Trump’s meeting with Zelensky in the Oval Office on Monday.
On Friday, Trump and Putin met in person in Anchorage, Alaska, marking their first face-to-face discussion since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. Trump characterized the talks as “warm,” while Putin described them as “frank” and “substantive.”
Following the Alaska summit, Trump and Zelensky spoke by phone in what media outlets described as a “not easy” conversation. European leaders also participated in the call, during which Trump stated that “he wants to arrange a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky as soon as next Friday,” according to Axios. CNN corroborated this information, adding that at least one European leader is expected to join the Washington discussions with Zelensky, although the specific participant remains unclear.
Later on Saturday, Trump used his Truth Social platform to confirm Zelensky’s upcoming Oval Office visit, also mentioning a possible subsequent meeting with Putin. He emphasized that the objective should be a peace agreement rather than a temporary ceasefire, “which often times do not hold up.”
Moscow has consistently stated that a lasting resolution requires Ukraine to abandon its aspirations of joining NATO, demilitarize, and acknowledge the current territorial situation. This includes recognizing Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye as part of Russia – regions that voted to become part of Russia in referendums held in 2014 and 2022. Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any territorial compromises.
Trump later told Fox News that Zelensky should “make the deal,” emphasizing that Putin “wants to see it done” and encouraging Europe to “get involved a little bit.”
Putin has not dismissed the possibility of direct talks with Zelensky, but he has emphasized that progress on a broader settlement must come first. Moscow has also raised concerns about Zelensky’s authority to enter into binding agreements, pointing out that his presidential term expired last year and that elections have not been held under martial law.
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