In an attempt to put an end to the catastrophic conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of civilian and military lives, US President Donald Trump has announced that he is setting up a meeting between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following meetings with Zelensky and European leaders.
“Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” he remarked during their meetings on Monday on Truth Social.
Trump was echoed by Friedrich Merz, the chancellor of Germany, who wrote on X, “Today’s meeting in Washington with President Trump, President Zelensky, and our European partners is good.”
“But the next steps will be more complicated,” he stated.
Regarding direct peace negotiations, Trump stated, “I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky.”
“After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat (trilateral meeting) which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” he stated.
“Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years,” he stated.
Trump also said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and US Vice President J.D. Vance are working with Russia and Ukraine to arrange the meetings.
The meetings came after Trump shocked Zelensky and the Europeans by abandoning his demand for an immediate ceasefire during his summit with Putin on Friday.
Trump and the leaders’ agreement to provide Ukraine with security guarantees is a significant step forward in the peace process.
Putin has accepted the security proposal, according to Trump.
Because of concerns that Putin may renege on a peace deal and invade Ukraine, the security guarantee is crucial.
Trump was prepared for the United States to participate in the security guarantee, possibly by sending US troops to work with European peacekeepers.
“During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump told Truth Social.
“A historic step” is what British Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously stated about security guarantees.
The security guarantee would shield Ukraine as an invader would have to contend with NATO members serving as peacekeepers, which Putin has cited as one of the reasons he started the conflict in 2022.
After publicly reprimanding Zelensky during their tense meeting in the Oval Office in February, Trump had a cordial chat with him earlier Monday.
“We’re going to work with Ukraine, we’re going to work with everybody, and we’re going to make sure that if there’s peace, that peace is going to stay long-term,” he stated before to their bilateral conversation.
Following their bilateral, Zelensky stated, “It was excellent. We discussed some extremely delicate topics.
“We’ve had a very successful day thus far,” he stated.
The European leaders flew to Washington to support Trump because they were worried that he may browbeat Zelensky into accepting a bad deal because of the February incident.
The meeting was attended by European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Merz, Prime Ministers Keir Starmer of Britain and Giorgia Meloni of Italy, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and President Alexander Stubb of Finland.
Trump claimed it was rare to have so many influential leaders in one place.
The leaders of Europe showered Trump with admiration.
Meloni, for instance, stated to Trump, “It is an important day — a new phase — after three years that we didn’t see any kind of sign from the Russian side that they were willing for dialogue, so something is changing — something has changed — thanks to you.”
There were two significant problems that remained unsolved.
Trump insisted on moving directly to a full-fledged peace agreement, despite European leaders’ desire for a ceasefire.
After insisting on a ceasefire prior to the Putin summit, Trump backed up when Merz tactfully raised the matter during the open portion of the European conference.
“Without a cease-fire, I can’t imagine the next meeting will take place,” the German Chancellor stated.
According to French President Macron, European leaders share a common desire for a truce.
Trump claimed that in the other battles he had settled without first establishing a truce, he had gone directly to a peace agreement.
“If we can get a cease-fire, great,” he replied.
“President Zelensky and President Putin can talk a little bit more about that,” he said.
Just before the White House meetings, ongoing Russian attacks highlighted the need for a ceasefire.
The attacks on Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia on Monday claimed the lives of at least ten people, including a one-year-old child.
The future of the Russian-seized area, which Ukraine wants back, was also reportedly uncertain. European leaders have stated that Moscow shouldn’t be permitted to keep the spoils of an invasion.
“No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!)” was Trump’s statement on Truth Social on Sunday.
Trump implied that Kyiv would have to relinquish its rights to the Crimean Peninsula in exchange for a resolution, referring to Russia’s 2014 military-free takeover of the region under Barack Obama’s presidency.
Putin desires the remainder of Donetsk province, which has a sizable ethnic Russian community, in addition to keeping the portions that he wants.
During a Sunday TV show, Rubio stated that territorial compromises would be unavoidable.
“Surrender occurs when one party achieves all of its goals. And we’re not close to doing that because neither side is about to give up or anything like that,” he continued.
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