Diplomatic encounter between Putin and Zelensky scheduled following discussions with Trump, aiming for a peace summit.

In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet for a peace summit following discussions between Donald Trump and European leaders. The anticipated meeting, set to take place in the near future, marks the first encounter between the two leaders since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine nearly three and a half years ago.

The summit, held in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., was attended by a number of key figures, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.

The discussions focused on ending the ongoing war in Ukraine, securing long-term peace, addressing Russia's territorial demands, and maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia. In an effort to ensure Ukraine's security, Zelensky announced a $90 billion package for security guarantees, with the terms to be formalized within 10 days.

In a bid to strengthen Ukraine's defences, Ukraine has agreed to purchase $100 billion of U.S. weapons, financed by Europe. The security guarantees will be provided by various European countries, with coordination from the United States of America.

Trump, who has expressed hope for peace between Russia and Ukraine, has been actively involved in these discussions. He has spoken with Putin following the meetings and has begun arrangements for a meeting between the two leaders. The U.S. president also discussed security guarantees for Ukraine during the White House talks.

The prospect of direct talks between Zelensky and Putin has been welcomed, with Zelensky confirming his readiness for a bilateral meeting and Putin expressing openness to the idea. However, Germany's Merz emphasized that Ukraine should not be forced to surrender its Donbas region to Russia in any negotiations.

The presence of European leaders underscores continuing apprehensions about Trump pivoting towards Putin. French President Macron, for instance, has called for stepping up sanctions against Russia if Putin does not move forward on peace with Ukraine.

As the world watches, the upcoming peace summit offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The international community will be closely following developments, hoping for a peaceful and lasting solution to this long-standing dispute.