Politics

Trump’s Peace Push: Can a Summit with Putin and Zelensky End the Russia-Ukraine War?

August 20, 2025, 8:09 AM

An elderly woman with a cane and a man holding a bag are standing on a muddy street next to a soldier in camouflage, with a damaged building in the background.

A poignant photograph capturing a Ukrainian soldier assisting an elderly woman and a man during an evacuation from the town of Irpin, Ukraine, on March 5, 2022. By Miami Daily Life / MiamiDaily.Life.

Executive Summary

President Trump has initiated a new diplomatic push to end the Russia-Ukraine war, facilitating a potential direct meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky, with Trump planning to join a later trilateral summit.

Key unresolved issues include agreements on land swaps, security guarantees for Ukraine (with President Trump indicating potential U.S. air support but no ground troops), and Russia’s rejection of NATO troops.

Humanitarian concerns, specifically the abduction of over 19,000 Ukrainian children, are a significant part of the diplomatic discussions, with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump actively engaged.

The Story So Far

The diplomatic efforts outlined in the article are a direct response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which continues to cause significant casualties and destruction. President Trump is personally driving these peace initiatives, engaging directly with leaders from both nations following a recent summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European counterparts. However, progress is complicated by unresolved issues including agreements on land swaps, security guarantees for Ukraine, and humanitarian concerns such as missing children.

Why This Matters

President Trump’s direct diplomatic engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, supported by European leaders, has generated new momentum for a potential summit aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. However, significant challenges persist, including ongoing Russian attacks, unresolved issues like land swaps and security guarantees—with the U.S. considering air support but no ground troops—and Russia’s firm rejection of NATO forces in Ukraine. Additionally, these diplomatic efforts are concurrently addressing critical humanitarian concerns, particularly the return of thousands of abducted Ukrainian children, a key priority for President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Who Thinks What?

President Trump is personally motivated to pursue a quick end to the conflict, actively facilitating meetings between leaders, and is willing to offer U.S. air support for Ukraine’s security, while also addressing humanitarian concerns like missing children.

Russian officials, including President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, agree to a potential meeting with President Zelensky but insist on gradual, expert-level preparation and firmly reject any scenario involving NATO troops in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelensky expresses a belief that a security guarantee can be finalized soon and is willing to meet with President Putin, prioritizing both security and the return of missing Ukrainian children.

Global leaders have initiated diplomatic efforts following President Trump’s recent summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European counterparts, aiming to capitalize on momentum to end the Russia-Ukraine war. President Trump directly contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin after the White House summit to discuss a potential face-to-face meeting with Zelensky.

During an interview on Fox News, President Trump expressed his personal motivation for pursuing peace, stating, “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed — I want to try to get to heaven if possible.” He indicated that a successful resolution to the conflict would be a significant step toward that goal.

Diplomatic Engagements and Proposed Meetings

The White House confirmed that President Putin agreed to meet with President Zelensky. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any potential summit “would have to be prepared” through a gradual, step-by-step process, beginning at the expert level.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who attended the Washington summit, suggested that Presidents Putin and Zelensky could hold a bilateral meeting within two weeks. French President Emmanuel Macron, another summit participant, proposed Switzerland as a potential venue for this meeting. President Trump indicated that if the two leaders meet, he would then participate in a trilateral meeting at a later date, with the ultimate goal of entirely ending the war.

Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff are currently coordinating with both Russia and Ukraine on these diplomatic initiatives. French President Macron, speaking to NBC News, emphasized the seriousness of President Trump’s optimism, stating, “So if he considers he can get a deal done, this is great news, and we have to do whatever we can to have a great deal.”

Ongoing Challenges and Security Concerns

Despite the diplomatic push, a “hot mic” incident on Monday reportedly captured President Trump telling President Macron that Putin “wants to make a deal for me” after a private meeting in Alaska last week. Concurrently, Russia launched a significant overnight attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing conflict.

Key unresolved issues include agreements on land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine. President Zelensky has expressed belief that a security guarantee could be finalized within the next 10 days. President Trump has stated the U.S. will participate in Ukraine’s security, though he clarified on Fox News that the U.S. would not send troops for peacekeeping, but left open the possibility of U.S. air support to protect Ukraine from future incursions.

Russia has maintained that it will not accept “any scenarios” involving the dispatch of NATO troops to Ukraine. President Trump is also facing pressure from his right flank concerning deeper U.S. involvement, particularly after special envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned the U.S. could participate in “Article 5-like protections” for Ukraine. Conservative commentator Steve Bannon questioned this approach on his radio show, stating, “I’m just lost how the United States offering an Article 5 commitment for a security guarantee to Ukraine is a win for the United States.”

Humanitarian Issues

In addition to territorial and security concerns, discussions are underway regarding missing Ukrainian children. President Trump confirmed he is in discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on this matter, which is a key concern for President Zelensky and First Lady Melania Trump. Melania Trump reportedly wrote a personal letter to President Putin pleading on behalf of these children. President Trump also commented on social media, stating, “This is… a big subject with my wife, Melania. It is a subject at the top of all lists, and the World will work together to solve it, hopefully bringing them home to their families!” More than 19,000 Ukrainian children are reported to have been abducted since the Russian invasion.

Diplomatic efforts continue as global leaders navigate complex negotiations surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war, addressing security guarantees, territorial disputes, and humanitarian concerns amidst ongoing conflict.