A whirlwind of diplomatic activity spanning from Washington to Moscow is underway, with the United States at the center of efforts to broker a peace summit between Russia and Ukraine. The White House announced Tuesday that it is actively planning a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The initiative gained steam following a series of meetings in Washington, where President Donald Trump hosted President Zelenskyy and European leaders. Subsequently, a phone call between Trump and Putin reportedly resulted in the Russian leader’s agreement to meet his Ukrainian counterpart. The White House is now working with both nations to make the meeting happen, suggesting a two-week timeframe.
While the U.S. is driving the process forward with urgency, Russia is signaling a need for caution. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked that a summit of this nature requires careful and thorough preparation, a statement that stops short of confirming the accelerated timeline proposed by Washington. This highlights the diplomatic challenges that lie ahead.
On the ground, the key players are preparing for potential talks. Zelenskyy is ready to discuss the future of occupied territories directly with Putin, viewing it as a separate issue from security guarantees, which are being discussed with allies. The U.S. has clarified its potential military contribution, ruling out ground troops but leaving open the possibility of providing air support.
