Zelensky expresses readiness for a three-way encounter with Trump and Putin

In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump has signalled a shift in his approach towards the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, expressing his intention to secure a final peace settlement between the two nations. This announcement comes after a series of meetings and discussions with various world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Both Trump and Zelensky have expressed hope for trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Russia's war on Ukraine. The prospect of these talks has sparked a flurry of responses from European leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a quadrilateral meeting including Europeans in response to Trump's hopes of bringing together the Ukrainian and Russian presidents.

The meeting between Zelensky and Trump took place on Monday at the White House, attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Zelensky, in his statements, emphasised the importance of a "strong Ukrainian army" through weapons sales and training to ensure his country's security. He also outlined that peace must be lasting, not as it was after Russia seized Crimea and part of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine eight years ago.

European leaders are seeking concrete details about U.S. involvement towards building a security guarantee for Ukraine. They are keen on safeguarding Ukraine and the continent from any widening aggression from Moscow. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested a trilateral meeting as a next step, while French President Emmanuel Macron praised Trump for opening a path to peace but urged the U.S. president to push Russia for a ceasefire.

Despite the expressed hope for peace, there are concerns and skepticism about Putin's interest in peace while seeking credible security guarantees for Ukraine. Many European leaders emphasise adherence to previous frameworks like the Istanbul 2022 discussions that involved permanent neutrality in exchange for international guarantees, including from the U.S. However, no explicit EU demands to the USA regarding security guarantees in these talks have been identified in the available sources.

Trump met with Putin on Friday before the meeting with Zelensky. Details from the discussions emerged in a scattershot way that seemed to rankle the U.S. president. Putin's team claims Russian leader is open to Western allies agreeing to defend Ukraine if it comes under attack. However, Trump suggested that Ukraine could not regain Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Trump briefed Zelensky and European allies shortly after the Putin meeting. The second part of Ukraine's security, according to Zelensky, depends on the outcome of Monday's talks and what EU countries, NATO, and the U.S. can guarantee to the war-torn country. As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict.