U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to arrange a direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following high-stakes talks at the White House aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump revealed the initiative on Truth Social after hosting Zelenskyy and a delegation of European leaders for a series of closed-door discussions focused on territorial disputes, security guarantees, and humanitarian concerns. 

The proposed trilateral summit, which would include Trump himself, is being positioned as a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has persisted for nearly four years.

“Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” Trump wrote, adding that he had already spoken with Putin for 40 minutes to begin logistical arrangements.

The announcement comes just days after Trump’s separate summit with Putin in Alaska, which ended without a formal ceasefire but reportedly laid groundwork for future negotiations. Zelenskyy, who had previously expressed skepticism about talks held without Ukraine’s direct involvement, welcomed the prospect of a trilateral meeting, stating:

“What is very important is that all the sensitive things...we will discuss on the level of leaders,” he said, emphasizing the need for U.S. participation.

European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, voiced cautious optimism. 

Rutte described the White House talks as “very successful,” while Stubb stressed that any security guarantees for Ukraine must be determined by Western allies—not the Kremlin.

Key sticking points remain, particularly Russia’s demand to retain control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, a condition Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected as unconstitutional. 

Trump, however, did not rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. peacekeepers to enforce any future agreement.

The proposed Zelenskyy-Putin meeting has yet to be scheduled, but Trump indicated he would attend if both leaders agreed.

“If you both want me there, I will be there,” he said during the talks.

As diplomatic momentum builds, observers remain divided over whether Trump’s unconventional approach can yield a durable peace—or simply add another layer of complexity to an already volatile conflict.