As world leaders work harder to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, there is growing support for negotiations between Putin and Zelensky. Russia has downplayed calls for a quick meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, even if U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for talks. After meeting with both leaders recently, Trump said that direct talks could help end the long-running issue, but he also admitted that Putin might not really want a deal.
Trump used to want a three-way summit, but now he thinks a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders could be more useful. The Kremlin is still unclear about whether or not it wants to talk. Violence is still happening in many parts of Ukraine, but European forces are working behind the scenes to create a strong framework for long-term peace and stability.
Why are people unsure about a summit?
Trump seemed hopeful, but Russia’s foreign ministry was more cautious. Russian officials warned that any summit would need to be prepared at a “expert level” first, which means that a high-level conference is not likely to happen soon. This kind of language makes it seem like the Kremlin would rather handle things slowly and carefully than be rushed into high-stakes diplomacy.
Also, the way people in Russia feel about this may be causing the delay. Officials have stressed that meetings should not happen only “for the sake of a meeting.” In short, Moscow demands specific terms or concessions before agreeing to meet in person. Here is the link to our article on Trump Tariff Impact.
Are Ukraine and Europe on the same page about talks?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is ready to talks between Putin and Zelensky in “any format.” But Kyiv is still wary of suggested places like Moscow or Budapest. People are suspicious of Hungary’s capital since Prime Minister Viktor Orban has deep relations to Russia and Moscow has just said that the conflict has been won.
European leaders, on the other hand, have offered neutral places like Geneva. For example, French President Emmanuel Macron has done so. But there is still doubt. European leaders seem less sure than Trump that peace is close, and several are very skeptical of Putin’s genuine motives.
What part is the U.S. playing in plans for peace?
Trump has changed his mind about pushing for a ceasefire after talking to both leaders separately. Now he wants a genuine peace settlement. He suggested that European countries send ground troops and that the U.S. would help “by air,” but he ruled out sending American soldiers.
Also, there are plans to create a reassurance force led by Europe and supported by NATO countries. Washington and European capitals are still talking about how to establish security guarantees that may protect Ukraine in any future accord. These meetings are quite important, especially since Trump’s policies keep changing. Here is the link to our article on Trump Citizenship Blocked.
Is Putin Really Interested in Diplomacy?
Putin has said he is “open” to negotiations with Trump, but he has not done much in public to show that he is really interested in negotiating. His government still calls Zelensky illegitimate and blames Ukraine’s leaders for getting closer to the West. The Russian media also tries to hurt the Ukrainian president by employing ridiculing or unfriendly words.
Russia has no reason to rush into discussions while it still has an edge on the battlefield. The Kremlin may think it has a better chance of getting what it wants by dragging out the fight, since it has ground control in some areas and a regular stream of airstrikes.
What needs to happen next for peace?
In the next few days, there will be high-level discussions where NATO leaders, U.S. officials, and European partners will keep talking about what to do next. Supporters of Ukraine hope that constant diplomatic pressure will finally make Moscow do something. But leaders like Finland’s President Alexander Stubb are still not convinced and say that trust in Putin is hard to come by.
It is still unclear if negotiations between Putin and Zelensky can really happen soon. But the stakes are quite high for both countries and the world system.
Final Thoughts
Putin-Zelensky talks are surrounded by doubt, power battles, and ambiguity about the way to meaningful discussions between the two leaders. There are still diplomatic attempts going on behind the scenes, but the situation on the ground in Ukraine is really bad. To get peace, we need more than just hopeful words; we need real political will and real acts. The world is watching, optimistic yet careful, as talks go back and forth between being real and being fake.
