In what could represent a historic moment in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky have agreed to hold a bilateral meeting in the next two weeks, with the goal of moving toward ending the war.
If it takes place, this meeting would be the first time both leaders meet face to face since Putin's forces invaded Ukrainian territory in early 2022.
The announcement was confirmed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who explained that Putin agreed to meet with Zelensky after a phone call with United States President Donald Trump on Monday. According to Merz, it was Putin himself who proposed the format for the negotiations: first a bilateral meeting with Zelensky and then a trilateral one with Trump included.
Zelensky confirms his participation in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Zelensky confirmed his willingness to participate in the dialogue. "I confirmed, and all European leaders supported me, that we're ready for a bilateral meeting with Putin," stated the Ukrainian leader, who reiterated his commitment to seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
However, the German chancellor expressed some skepticism about the true intention of the Russian leader, questioning whether Putin will really have the "courage" needed to sit down and negotiate seriously with the Ukrainian president. So far, the Kremlin had repeatedly rejected any attempt at direct dialogue without a prior peace plan being agreed upon.
President Trump has taken a leadership role in this new diplomatic effort. Today, the Republican leader officially announced that, together with his advisors, he's organizing the peace talks between Putin and Zelensky, and that he plans to later join a trilateral summit. "This was a very good initial step for a war that's already lasted almost four years," Trump declared.
