KEY POINTS:
- Ukraine’s Zelensky signals meeting with Trump soon
• US pushes ceasefire framework, but key issues remain unresolved
• Long-running war and territorial disputes complicate peace drive
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he expects to meet US President Donald Trump in the “near future” as part of ongoing efforts to end nearly four years of war after Russia’s full-scale invasion of his country.
This comment came after recent discussions between Ukrainian and US envoys to advance peace talks and shared proposals on how to address the conflict’s core issues, according to Reuters.
Zelensky’s announcement followed a productive one-hour discussion with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Mnuchin, and Trump’s adviser, Jared Kushner, which included fresh ideas on negotiation formats and timelines as both sides seek to solidify a path to peace. Russian officials, meanwhile, say they are seeing “slow but steady progress” in talks with the United States toward ending the war, underscoring the complex diplomatic dance involving Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington.
The proposed meeting comes amid broader US-led efforts to secure a ceasefire and a comprehensive settlement to the conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. President Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to end the war, has pushed for a halt to hostilities “where we are” on the battlefield as a first step toward negotiations, a position Zelensky publicly supported after a previous White House meeting. (Anadolu Ajansı)
However, reaching a lasting ceasefire has been elusive. Previous efforts, including an earlier US-Russia summit in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, concluded without a deal on ending the conflict, prompting Trump to indicate further discussions — including with Kyiv’s leadership — would be necessary.
Central to the diplomatic challenge are unresolved issues over territorial control in eastern Ukraine and broader security guarantees. Ukrainian officials say that while progress has been made on a detailed peace framework, difficult questions remain, particularly on territory in the east and the governance of strategic sites such as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Zelensky has argued that any peace agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and has pressed for stronger clarity from Trump and Western allies on security guarantees that would safeguard Ukraine’s independence. (Anadolu Ajansı)
As Ukraine continues to seek broader international support, European leaders have also weighed in, stressing that Kyiv must be at the heart of any peace negotiations and asserting that decisions about Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine’s direct involvement.
Zelensky’s comments about an upcoming meeting with Trump add new momentum to a diplomatic process that remains fragile. With multiple rounds of dialogue ongoing in capitals from Miami to Berlin, and with Russia still resistant to key ceasefire terms, global attention is focused on whether the next round of high-level talks can translate diplomatic intention into a tangible pathway toward ending one of Europe’s most destructive conflicts.
