Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet one-on-one within two weeks to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Talking with reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump, Zelensky, and other European leaders at the White House, Merz said that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine would meet face-to-face soon, according to The Telegraph. Trump told Zelensky Monday that the U.S. president would join in peace talks between the two powers “if you want me there.”
Merz took a shot at Putin, telling reporters that the Russian leader might not have the “courage” to face Zelensky one-on-one. Putin reportedly told Trump during a phone call on Monday that he is ready to meet Zelensky.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he would join in a meeting with Putin and Zelensky after the two’s one-on-one meeting.
“Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine. At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” said Trump.
“[T]his was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years,” he added.
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During talks on Monday, Trump said that security guarantees by the United States for Ukraine may be part of an eventual peace deal. Russia rejected proposals to put a NATO peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
“We confirm the position that has been voiced more than once about our categorical rejection of any scenarios involving the appearance of Ukraine military contingent with the participation of NATO countries (which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences),” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
The topic of land swaps for peace has also been raised, including giving up land that is currently held by Ukraine in the Donbas. Merz pushed back forcefully against the suggestion after talks on Monday concluded.
“The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbas corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida,” Merz said.
