President Donald Trump announced he is brokering direct talks between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to end the Russia-Ukraine war, following a White House summit with European leaders. The initiative marks a significant escalation in U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict that began with Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Trump revealed the effort during meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025. During the discussions, Trump unexpectedly called Russian President Vladimir Putin to propose a trilateral summit. The U.S. president stated that Putin appeared receptive to the idea of direct negotiations with Zelensky, though Russian officials later remained noncommittal.
The diplomatic push follows Trump’s controversial summit with Putin in Alaska just days earlier, where he faced criticism for abandoning demands for an immediate ceasefire. White House advisers framed the new initiative as part of a three-step strategy toward peace, beginning with confidence-building measures, followed by leader-level talks, and culminating in a comprehensive settlement. French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the White House meeting, cautiously endorsed the effort as necessary for de-escalation.
Trump emphasized his personal relationships with both leaders as key to the potential breakthrough, telling Macron in a hot-mic moment that Putin would likely agree to a deal because of their rapport. The proposal includes undefined U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, which Trump suggested could involve American troop deployments – a notion Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified would require international consensus.
The development comes amid ongoing fighting in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces maintain control over Crimea and parts of the Donbas region. Previous ceasefire attempts have collapsed over disagreements about territorial sovereignty and security arrangements. Zelensky has consistently demanded full restoration of Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, while Russia seeks guarantees against NATO expansion.
Potential meeting logistics are being developed by diplomatic teams, with Geneva emerging as a likely venue. Trump indicated he might personally attend the summit if both leaders request his presence. The White House hopes to schedule talks before September, though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted no formal agreement had been reached.
If successful, the talks would represent the first direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky since the war began. Analysts warn that substantive disagreements remain over core issues including border demarcation, disarmament, and the status of Russian-occupied territories. The European Union has pledged support for the initiative but emphasized any settlement must uphold Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Next steps include preparatory negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian diplomats scheduled for next week in Geneva. The U.S. State Department will mediate these discussions, focusing on agenda items and security protocols for the potential leader summit.