The meeting could take place within two weeks, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
By Agencies and published by CNA
A PEACE summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is taking shape after talks in Washington on Monday (Aug. 18).
US President Donald Trump, fresh from what he described as a “very good” meeting with Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, said he got into a phone call with Putin – raising hopes of a breakthrough on long-term security guarantees for Kyiv.
If it happens, the summit would be the first meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy since Russia’s invasion more than three years ago.
The leaders did not hold a joint press conference after their meeting, opting instead to brief the media separately.
Here’s a quick recap of developments:
– Trump told Zelenskyy that the US would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any deal to end Russia’s war there, though the extent of any promised assistance was not immediately clear.
– While a peace deal appears to be far from imminent, both Trump and Zelenskyy said they hoped Monday’s gathering would eventually lead to three-way talks with Putin.
– Trump said he had called Putin and begun arranging a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, to be followed by a trilateral summit among the three presidents.
– German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Putin agreed in the call to meet Zelenskyy within two weeks.
– Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin told Trump that he was open to the “idea” of direct talks with Ukraine, according to the TASS news agency
Live reporting:
Zelenskyy says ready for bilateral meeting with Putin to end war
Following talks at the White House, Zelenskyy said that he would be willing to meet directly with Russia’s Putin to end the invasion of his country.
“I confirmed – and all European leaders supported me – that we are ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin,” Zelenskyy told Ukrainian media outside the White House following talks with several European leaders and Trump.
IN PICTURES:
Moments from the meetings between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, amid efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump speaks during the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European Leaders at the White House in Washington DC, US on Aug, 18, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Alexander Drago and published by CNNA
Russia-controlled land in Ukraine
Russia already controls a fifth of Ukraine, and Putin was said to be seeking full control of Donetsk province, an industrial region in the far east.
Russia controls 75 per cent of the Donetsk region, which it first entered in 2014 when Russian-backed separatists broke away from the Ukrainian government and proclaimed themselves independent “people’s republics”.
In 2022, Putin recognised the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent states just days before the invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow is now pushing towards the last remaining major cities in Donetsk, but Ukrainian forces are digging deep to hold on to the area, which serves as a crucial defensive zone against Russian attacks.
Germany’s Merz says Ukraine should not be forced into territorial concessions
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine should not be forced to surrender its Donbass region to Russia in talks, likening it to the United States giving up Florida.
“The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbass corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida,” Merz told reporters after talks at the White House.
Donbas is Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east.
Merz added that Trump voiced a readiness to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, even though the US president himself put the onus on Europeans.
“The bottom line is that the United States of America is prepared to provide security guarantees and to coordinate this with the Europeans. There will be appropriate security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement,” Merz said.
Trump has repeatedly ruled out Ukraine entering NATO, siding with Putin who has called the step a provocation.
Reporter compliments Zelenskyy on his suit
While in the Oval Office, Zelenskyy was complimented on his suit by a reporter, Real America’s Voice correspondent Brian Glenn, who took him to task about his attire during his last Oval Office visit.
The lighthearted exchange marked a contrast to what happened during the Feb. 28 visit, when Glenn asked why Zelenskyy was not wearing a suit and suggested “a lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the dignity of this office”.
Earlier, before Trump and European leaders sat down in the East Room, a hot mic picked up Trump, saying: “He set up a tri-lat. I think he wants to make a deal for me.”
It appears Trump was referring to Putin.
Ukraine security guarantees may be ironed out within a week, Finland’s president says
Details of security guarantees for Ukraine could be ironed out within the next week or so, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb told Finnish reporters in the US capital.
Stubb was one of several European leaders travelling to Washington for a joint meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy to discuss the prospect for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump meeting with Zelenskyy, NATO and European allies very successful, says NATO chief
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Fox News that Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy and other European and NATO partners was very successful.
During an interview on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” show, Rutte said security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed in the meeting and that there was no discussion about boots on the ground.
United European front
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Trump was impressed that the Europeans had come with a unified front, and their discussions with the US administration would now turn to details on security guarantees for Ukraine.
“It is absolutely clear that the whole of Europe should participate,” said Merz, praising Trump’s announcement that the United States is also prepared to provide them.
Putin open to idea of direct Russia-Ukraine talks: Aide
Putin told Trump that he was open to the “idea” of direct talks with Ukraine, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said, as quoted by the TASS news agency.
“In the course of the further phone conversation, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expressed support for the continuation of direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine,” he said.
“In this regard, in particular, the idea was discussed that it would be necessary to study the possibility of raising the level of representatives of the Ukrainian and Russian sides, that is, those representatives who participate in the aforementioned direct negotiations,” he said.
CAPTIONS:
Top: US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb walk during a meeting, amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Aug. 18, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Alexander Drago and published by CNA
Front Page: US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, amid negotiations to end the Russian war in Ukraine, in Washington, DC, US on Aug. 18, 2025. Photo: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque and published by CNA
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