Trump Says Peace Talks With Zelenskyy and Putin Are in Motion, Calls It a “Very Good, Early Step”

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

Speaking after a high-level gathering at the White House with European leaders, NATO officials, and President Zelenskyy, Trump indicated that peace talks could be moving closer. “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 added that discussions focused on security guarantees for Ukraine, coordinated between European nations and the US. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” he said. He said that following the one-on-one meeting, he expects 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 working on the logistics with Moscow and Kyiv, Trump added. “This was a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years,” he emphasised.

Trump and Putin Hold 40-Minute Call
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 stay in close contact on the Ukraine crisis and other global issues, signaling Moscow and Washington’s intent to maintain open diplomatic channels.