World

Can Trump Bridge the Divide? How the President Is Trying to Forge a Putin-Zelensky Summit Amidst Stalled Talks

Trump wants Putin/Zelensky talks, but Kremlin says no prep is underway. Ukraine demands a ceasefire first.

August 29, 2025, 7:02 PM

Three side-by-side portraits of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, all looking seriously at the viewer, possibly displayed on a screen or as a composite image.

This image presents side-by-side portraits of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering a visual representation of key figures in global politics. The juxtaposition invites contemplation on their individual leadership styles and their collective impact on international relations. By Shutterstock.com / bella1105.

Executive Summary

President Trump is actively advocating for a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to break the deadlock in the ongoing conflict.

The Kremlin has indicated that the necessary preparatory work for a high-level summit between Putin and Zelensky is not currently underway, making an imminent meeting unlikely despite Putin being open to it with prior groundwork.

Ukrainian President Zelensky demands a ceasefire as a precondition for any negotiations, a stance that contrasts with Russia’s reported rejection of a ceasefire, highlighting a key obstacle to a potential summit.

The Story So Far

Donald Trump is actively pushing for a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to break the deadlock in their ongoing conflict. However, the Kremlin indicates that the necessary preparatory work for such a high-level summit is not underway and has ruled out a ceasefire as a precondition, while President Zelensky insists that a ceasefire must be in place before any negotiations, viewing Russia’s current stance as a lack of genuine intent for peace.

Why This Matters

Despite President Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts to broker a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the immediate prospects for a breakthrough in the conflict remain dim, as the Kremlin indicates a lack of preparatory work and fundamental disagreements persist between the warring parties, particularly regarding Ukraine’s demand for a ceasefire as a precondition for talks versus Russia’s focus on a peace settlement.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump is actively advocating for a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, expressing optimism that arrangements for such a summit are beginning to be made.

The Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, indicates that President Putin is open to a meeting but stresses that thorough preparatory work at the expert level is necessary and not currently underway, having already conveyed its main provisions to Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to meet President Putin but insists on a ceasefire as a crucial precondition, viewing Russia’s reported rejection of a ceasefire and hesitation for a direct meeting as evidence that Moscow is not genuinely seeking peace.

President Donald Trump is actively advocating for a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aiming to break the deadlock in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite Trump’s recent diplomatic engagements with both leaders, the Kremlin has indicated that the necessary preparatory work for such a high-level summit is not currently underway, making an imminent meeting unlikely.

Trump’s Diplomatic Push

Earlier in August, President Trump met with President Putin in Alaska and President Zelensky in Washington, D.C., reportedly expressing optimism that a direct meeting between the two warring leaders could occur within weeks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz relayed Trump’s assessment, noting that arrangements were beginning to be made to facilitate the discussion.

Kremlin’s Stance on Negotiations

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that President Putin remains open to a meeting with President Zelensky. However, Peskov emphasized that any high-level discussion would require thorough preparation, including significant groundwork at the expert level, which he stated is currently not “in full swing.”

Peskov further elaborated that Russia maintains its interest and readiness for negotiations, having already conveyed its “main provisions in written form” to the Ukrainian side. He indicated that further discussion on these positions is necessary before a summit could be productive.

Ukraine’s Conditions for Dialogue

President Zelensky has also expressed his willingness to meet with President Putin but has set a crucial precondition: a ceasefire must be in place before any negotiations commence. This demand stands in contrast to Russia’s position, which has reportedly ruled out a ceasefire, preferring to proceed directly to discussions on a peace settlement.

According to the Ukrainian leader, Russia’s rejection of a ceasefire and its hesitation regarding a direct meeting with Putin serve as evidence that Moscow is not genuinely seeking peace. Zelensky suggests that Russia’s true intention is to continue the war to seize more territory from Kyiv.

Outlook on a Potential Summit

While President Trump continues to push for a direct engagement between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, significant obstacles remain. The differing preconditions for negotiations—Ukraine’s demand for a ceasefire versus Russia’s focus on a peace settlement and preparatory expert work—highlight the deep divisions that currently prevent a high-level summit.