Zelensky proposes meeting Putin in Washington, Trump optimistic about ending the war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new diplomatic initiative aimed at breaking the stalemate in the years-long war, proposing a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on American soil. This announcement followed telephone consultations between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, during which they discussed ways to advance the peace process.

In a video address broadcast across social media platforms, Zelensky explained that Sunday's discussions with Trump focused on drafting a framework for this anticipated meeting. The Ukrainian president indicated that the proposed format for the meeting in the United States was carefully designed to be an offer that would be difficult for the Kremlin to ignore or reject at this time.

For his part, US President Donald Trump expressed notable optimism during his presence at the G7 summit in France, affirming his serious efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine and Lebanon. Trump stated that he had constructive talks with both Zelensky and Putin, expressing his belief that both parties are showing unprecedented openness to reaching a settlement that would end the armed conflict.

Despite this optimism, the Russian position remains cautious, as Putin had previously stated the futility of direct meetings without a clear draft peace agreement. Sources in the Ukrainian presidency indicate that the latest proposal was passed through multiple intelligence and diplomatic channels, but Moscow has not provided an official or clear response to date.

These moves come at a time when the international arena is witnessing increasing pressure to end the war, which has exceeded its fourth year, with Putin recently ignoring calls to attend the G7 summit in France. Through this initiative, Zelensky seeks to embarrass the Russian position internationally or push it towards the negotiating table under direct Washington patronage.

In the context of European support, the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany announced in a joint statement issued from London their full endorsement of Zelensky's proposals aimed at a ceasefire. The European leaders affirmed their countries' commitment to playing a pivotal role in any political process that leads to the restoration of stability on the old continent and the end of humanitarian suffering.

This diplomatic activity coincided with the US President's praise for another preliminary agreement concerning the Iranian file, reflecting the US administration's desire to resolve major international crises. Observers believe that Washington's entry as a host for the Putin-Zelensky meeting could shift the balance of power in the negotiating process, which has repeatedly faltered in the past.

Anticipation remains the order of the day, awaiting official reactions from the Kremlin to the American-backed Ukrainian offer in the coming days. International circles hope that this initiative will constitute a real turning point, ending Europe's longest military conflict in the 21st century.

I discussed with President Trump the possibility of organizing a meeting in the United States in a format that would be very difficult for Putin to refuse.