Yesterday a summit was held in the White House between the President of the United States Donald Trump, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders. During the day, you know, key themes related to war in Ukraine were discussed, including possible future encounters between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said he called Putin after the summit to start the organization of a face to face between the two leaders, adding that if everything goes well then there will also be “a trilateral with me too”. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that the bilateral meeting could take place within two weeks in a location still to be defined, perhaps Geneva.
Putin offers Moscow, Zelensky says no
Vladimir Putin proposed Moscow as a headquarters for the bilateral with Zelensky. Two sources aware of the telephone conversation between Trump and Putin confirmed that “Putin mentioned Moscow” during the phone call. Zelensky replied with a clear “no”, refusing the proposal to go to the Russian capital. In the meantime, other options have emerged such as Geneva and Hungary, but there is still no decision on the venue for the possible meeting.
Positions distant on truce and disputed territories
During the talks, Zelensky and several European leaders, including Macron and Merz, insisted immediate fire for a cease as a premise for negotiations. Trump, on the other hand, explained that the negotiations could also go on “under the bombs”, without the need for an immediate truce. On territorial issues, the distances remain marked: Putin asks for the definitive recognition of Crimea to Russia and the control of the Donbass, asking for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. In addition, he wants to freeze the situation in the Kherson and Zaporizhzia Oblast, already in part under Russian control. Zelensky reiterated his “no” to the sale of the Donbass, stating: “No gift to the invader”.
Security guarantees for Ukraine still to be defined
The security guarantees for Kiev are one of the most discussed points. Zelensky explained that for Ukraine it is working on a package that mainly includes “air defense planes and systems”. The American president reassured his interlocutor: “When he will deal with security, there will be a lot of help”. Trump has clarified that the main weight of the guarantees will be on European nations, but Washington will remain involved. Among the various options there is the proposal, supported by the Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, of a mechanism “inspired by Article 5” of NATO for Ukraine, without requesting formal adhesion to the alliance. Putin said he was available to discuss them, but he expressed many reserves.
Contrasts on sending troops and the role of Europeans
Paris, London and Berlin have proposed the sending of European soldiers to Ukraine, with the format of Peacekeeping forces or observers. The Kremlin immediately placed the absolute veto in the presence of troops born in the Ukrainian territory, while Trump categorically excluded the sending of American soldiers, affirming: “You have my guarantee”. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte specified that the theme has not been addressed in the details at the top, but underlines the differences between the allies regarding any direct military intervention.
Towards the bilateral: many open points
The goal of a bilateral between Putin and Zelensky is considered a real possibility by the main capital, even if strong uncertainties remain on conditions and content. Zelensky said he was “ready for bilateral with Putin” and, together with the European leaders, he reiterated that territorial issues must be addressed only in a direct meeting at the highest levels. Russia, through the councilor Yuri Ushakov, confirmed support for the elevation of the level of representatives in negotiations, but asks for an accurate preparation. The confrontation, if it happened, would be the first of the two presidents after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.
After the Washington summit, Giorgia Meloni – Italian Prime Minister – underlined the importance of security and European support guarantees in Kiev. The president of the European Council Antonio Costa reiterated the will to continue the adhesion of Ukraine to the European Union, while the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that connecting the belonging to the EU to the security guarantees “is useless and dangerous”. In the same hours, Moscow rejected any scenario with the presence of troops born in Ukraine and warned that this possibility could lead to “an uncontrollable escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences”.
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