Trump Says He’s Working to Arrange Zelenskyy-Putin Meeting, Signals Possibility of Peace

US President Donald Trump on Monday said preparations are underway for a face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a “very good, early step” toward ending the nearly four-year conflict.

Speaking after a high-level gathering at the White House with European leaders, NATO officials, and President Zelenskyy, Trump suggested that peace talks could be progressing.

“I had a very good meeting with distinguished guests which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office,” Trump said on Truth Social. Attendees included 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.

Trump said discussions centered on security guarantees for Ukraine, to be coordinated between European nations and Washington. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” he added.

He noted that following the one-on-one meeting, he plans to host a trilateral session with both leaders. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” Trump said.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are coordinating logistics with Moscow and Kyiv, he added. “This was a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years,” Trump emphasized.

Trump and Putin Hold 40-Minute Call During White House Talks
The Kremlin confirmed that President Vladimir Putin thanked Trump for the hospitality and progress made during their Alaska summit. Russian news agencies reported that the two leaders held a 40-minute phone call supporting continued direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. They also agreed to maintain close communication on the Ukraine crisis and other global issues, signaling Moscow and Washington’s intention to keep diplomatic channels open.