Zelensky-Putin Bilateral Meeting Expected Within Two Weeks, Trump May Join Trilateral Talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks.

Merz said the agreement came after a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, who confirmed that both leaders had consented to meet. A trilateral summit involving Trump could follow the meeting.

“The American president spoke with the Russian president on the phone and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks,” Merz told reporters at the White House. He added, however, that doubts remain over whether Putin will “have the courage” to attend.

Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that senior negotiators would continue discussions but did not clarify whether Putin himself would participate.

White House talks, which included European leaders, focused on the next phase of negotiations. Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that a ceasefire must precede any peace deal—a condition Putin has rejected, instead calling for an immediate agreement.

Significant divisions remain, particularly over Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede large portions of its territory, a condition Kyiv refuses to accept.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the summit as “good and constructive,” highlighting two outcomes: strengthened U.S.-European cooperation on security guarantees for Ukraine and an agreement in principle for the Zelensky-Putin meeting, to be followed by trilateral talks with Trump.

Macron emphasized that any deal must allow Ukraine to maintain “a robust army that can resist any attempted attack” without limitations on size or capacity. He warned that further sanctions would follow if Moscow blocked progress. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed the warning, stating that the U.S. and Europe would escalate tariffs and sanctions if Russia stalled.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Trump had pledged to help secure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, stating, “Every single Ukrainian child must be returned to their families,” and thanked Trump for his commitment. Trump later described the issue as a global priority and one “very important” to his wife, Melania.