Trump Pushes Trilateral Talks With Ukraine and Russia to End War

Donald Trump is advancing diplomatic efforts to bring together the United States, Ukraine, and Russia for trilateral talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This initiative marks a significant shift in U.S. strategy, as Trump has emphasized the possibility of direct negotiations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with no requirement for a prior ceasefire. During a meeting at the White House on August 18, 2025, Trump announced that he had reached out to Putin to coordinate a potential meeting between the two leaders, with U.S. participation following if necessary [1].

Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the discussions, calling the meeting with Trump and European leaders a “very good conversation” and an important step toward achieving peace. He reiterated the need for strong security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression and praised U.S. and European leaders for their unified support. European leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, emphasized that a peaceful resolution to the conflict is in the interest of the entire continent [2].

The discussions also addressed specific issues such as the return of Ukrainian children and prisoners of war abducted by Russian forces. Zelenskyy specifically acknowledged the efforts of First Lady Melania Trump in advocating for the safe return of the abducted children. European leaders underscored the importance of coordinated security assurances, suggesting that European nations would play a leading role, with the U.S. assisting in coordination. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the meeting as “very successful,” highlighting the unified stance presented by the leaders [3].

Trump has also suggested a pragmatic approach to ending the war, including the possibility of a land swap to facilitate peace. He stated, “I urge Ukraine to consider a land swap; this is the pragmatic path to peace,” aligning with recent Russian proposals. While the U.S. president is open to unconventional negotiation frameworks, some European leaders, such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have argued that a ceasefire should precede any formal talks. Trump, however, has countered that peace talks do not always require a prior cessation of hostilities, citing his experience in conflict resolution [4].

Zelenskyy has made it clear that any peace agreement must be on terms acceptable to Ukraine and its people. Trump similarly noted that any final deal would need to be mutually agreed upon by Zelenskyy, Putin, and the Ukrainian population. Both leaders emphasized the need for a durable and long-term peace to prevent the conflict from resurfacing [5].

The proposed trilateral talks differ from past diplomatic efforts, such as the Minsk agreements, by not requiring a ceasefire as a precondition. This approach has raised questions about its potential geopolitical and economic impacts, though no significant market volatility or crypto activity has been observed so far. Analysts remain cautious, noting that while the initiative has opened a new channel for dialogue, real progress will depend on Putin’s willingness to engage and make meaningful concessions [6].

European leaders, including Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, have stressed the importance of integrating Ukraine’s security into the broader European defense framework. Discussions also included the possibility of a peacekeeping presence and intelligence support for Kyiv, with some analysts suggesting that these measures could be modeled after NATO’s Article 5 provisions, though without formal membership for Ukraine.

The coming weeks will likely hinge on Trump’s next call with Putin and the responses from both leaders. The outcome of these negotiations could determine whether a lasting peace is achievable and reshape the geopolitical landscape in the region.

Source:

[1] Zelenskyy, Trump express hope for trilateral talks with Putin, AP, https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-war-d0ad768453210db23fe4b108f7b87135

[2] US would help assure Ukraine's security in a peace deal, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-would-help-assure-ukraines-security-peace-deal-trump-tells-zelenskiy-2025-08-18/

[3] Trump says he has begun arrangements for Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, ABC, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/trump-admin-live-updates/?id=124734940

[4] Public parts of White House talks went "very well" but "proof will be in the pudding," CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-white-house-ukraine/post-update-fd585ec8

[5] Zelenskyy calls meeting with Trump a "very good conversation," CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-white-house-ukraine/post-update-14533e95

[6] What "security guarantees" for Ukraine could mean, CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-white-house-ukraine/post-update-c131332b