POTENTIAL FOR PEACE: Trump, Zelensky announce meeting at White House, details of phone call

1

Following President Donald J. Trump’s nearly 3-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, a pathway to peace may be opening between Moscow and Kiev.

With new ideas to discuss from the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with Trump on Monday at the White House.

The upcoming meeting was announced after a lengthy and reportedly “difficult” post-summit call between Trump, Zelensky, and later several NATO leaders. Trump used to call from Air Force One to brief the leaders on his meeting with Putin, but a source with knowledge of the hour and a half long chat, “was not easy,” Axios reports.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, who were in the Trump-Putin meeting, were also on the call. The leaders of the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Finland, NATO, and the European Commission also joined the call for the last half hour. Present were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Axios reports:

According to the source, Trump told Zelensky and the NATO leaders that Putin doesn’t want a ceasefire and prefers a comprehensive agreement to end the war.

“Trump said on the call that he thinks a fast peace deal is better than a ceasefire,” the source said.

Axios points out that Trump previously endorsed Zelensky’s push for a ceasefire before peace talks.

Trump shared with Zelensky what Putin told him about the progress Russia was making on the front lines. According to Axios, Putin said “he could capture the entire Donetsk region and other areas” if he wanted to.

From Axios:

According to the source, Zelensky told Trump that Putin was misrepresenting the situation on the front.

During the call, Witkoff briefed Zelensky and the NATO leaders on how Putin sees the issue of territory and what he’s willing to give in return.

“The impression was that in return for territory, Putin is willing to end the war and commit not to try and occupy more areas in Ukraine and to not attack other countries,” the source said.

The European leaders issued a joint statement after the phone call, expressing unwavering support for Ukraine.

“Leaders welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression and achieve just and lasting peace,” the group said.

In a Truth post Saturday, Trump said, “It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.”

“President Zelenskyy will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday afternoon. If all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin. Potentially, millions of people’s lives will be saved,”  he added.

Zelensky took to X to express his support for a trilateral meeting between himself, Trump, and Putin.

“President Trump informed about his meeting with the Russian leader and the main points of their discussion,” he wrote. “It is important that America’s strength has an impact on the development of the situation.”

“On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation,” he added.

“We support President Trump’s proposal for a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia. Ukraine emphasizes that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,” Zelensky said.

Trump told Fox News that he and Putin agreed on most but not all issues, and it was now “up to President Zelensky to get it done.”

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS SECTION