German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks.
Merz revealed that the breakthrough came after a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which both leaders agreed to meet. He also hinted that a trilateral summit involving Trump could follow. “The American president spoke with the Russian president on the phone and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks,” Merz told reporters at the White House, while noting uncertainty over whether Putin would “have the courage” to attend.
Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that senior negotiators would keep talks alive but stopped short of confirming the Russian president’s attendance. Discussions at the White House, which included European leaders, focused on the next phase of negotiations. Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that a ceasefire must precede any peace deal — a condition Putin continues to resist, insisting instead on an immediate settlement.
Sharp divisions remain, particularly over Moscow’s demand that Ukraine cede large portions of its territory — a proposal Kyiv has flatly rejected. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the summit as “good and constructive,” pointing to two key outcomes: stronger U.S.-European cooperation on Ukraine’s security guarantees and an agreement in principle for the Zelensky-Putin meeting, potentially followed by trilateral talks with Trump.
Macron emphasized that any deal must allow Ukraine to retain “a robust army that can resist any attempted attack,” warning that sanctions would intensify if Moscow obstructs progress. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed this stance, pledging tougher tariffs and sanctions should Russia stall.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted Trump’s commitment to help secure the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia. “Every single Ukrainian child must be returned to their families,” she said, thanking Trump for prioritizing the issue. Trump later called it a “global priority” and something “very important” to his wife, Melania.
