Because the mud settles from President Donald Trump’s current rapid-fire diplomacy on the Russia-Ukraine struggle, consideration turns to what’s subsequent in peace negotiations.
Trump sounded optimistic on Monday as he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on the White Home, simply two days after his summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
“I believe President Putin will make peace. I believe President Zelensky will make peace. We’ll see if they’ll get alongside,” Trump stated.
The president dedicated to serving to European companions present safety ensures for Ukraine, and stated he was starting to rearrange a bilateral assembly between Zelenskyy and Putin.
However Russia has poured chilly water on a few of these highlights. Moscow has not confirmed that Putin will sit down with Zelenskyy and is demanding to be part of any dialogue on safety ensures.
Listed here are some key questions shifting ahead.
Will there really be a Putin-Zelenskyy summit, or a trilateral assembly?
President Trump first pushed for a trilateral assembly between Putin, Zelenskyy and himself earlier than shifting to proposing a bilateral assembly between Zelenskyy and Putin.
When requested concerning the change on Tuesday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed ABC Information Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott {that a} assembly between Zelenskyy and Putin would wish to occur forward of any potential trilateral assembly due to “areas of disagreement” between the 2 international locations.
Leavitt additionally stated that Putin “promised” to fulfill with Zelenskyy within the coming weeks however the Kremlin hasn’t confirmed that.
Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a joint press convention with President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Russia’s International Minister Sergey Lavrov, as a substitute, has appeared to solely downplay prospects of a summit between the 2 leaders within the close to future.
“We’re prepared for any format,” Lavrov stated at a information convention in Moscow on Wednesday. “However in the case of high-level conferences, it’s mandatory to arrange them in probably the most thorough manner in any respect earlier phases, in order that the summits don’t result in a worsening of the scenario, however slightly mark the tip of the negotiations that we’re able to proceed.”
In line with Lavrov, Putin “proposed that negotiations [with Ukraine] not simply be continued but additionally a better stage of delegations be thought-about” in a telephone name with Trump.
The White Home was requested on Tuesday the place a potential assembly between Putin and Zelenskyy would happen, and particularly whether or not Budapest, Hungary, was an possibility as has been reported. Leavitt stated they might “present particulars as quickly as we are able to.”
As for a trilateral assembly, Leavitt stated it could occur “if mandatory” following direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy.
Trump, throughout an interview on “Fox & Mates” on Tuesday left open the likelihood that Putin might not wish to make a deal.
“I believe Putin is bored with it. I believe they’re all bored with it. However you by no means know,” Trump stated. “We’ll discover out about President Putin within the subsequent couple of weeks. That I can inform you.”
President Donald J Trump attends a Multilateral Assembly with European leaders within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, August 18, 2025.
Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock
What would safety ensures appear like?
President Trump on Monday pledged “superb safety” for Ukraine, and stated that Putin stated Russia would settle for safety ensures for Ukraine — a key demand of Zelenskyy’s in any peace settlement.
European leaders on the White Home on Monday pressed for protections much like Article 5 mutual protection obligations underneath NATO. Ukraine has pushed to grow to be a member of the alliance, which Russia and Trump have rejected.
Since Monday, Trump has dominated out U.S. boots on the bottom in Ukraine in a peacekeeping position. As an alternative, he is floated the opportunity of U.S. air assist for Kyiv and serving to Europe coordinate safety ensures.
In line with the White Home, Trump has instructed his nationwide safety group group to give you a “framework for these safety ensures that may be acceptable to assist guarantee a long-lasting peace and finish this struggle.”
NATO protection officers, together with U.S. navy officers, held a digital assembly on Wednesday to debate safety ensures for Ukraine.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks throughout the every day briefing within the Brady Briefing Room of the White Home in Washington, August 19, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP
Russia, in the meantime, stated any talks with out them are on a “road to nowhere.”
“We can’t settle for the proposal to handle safety and collective safety points with out Russia’s involvement. This is not going to work. We have now repeatedly defined that Russia doesn’t exaggerate its pursuits, however we’ll firmly and decisively defend our professional pursuits,” Lavrov stated.
Russia stated it “has not heard any constructive concepts from European leaders on find out how to resolve the scenario in Ukraine within the context of their go to to Washington, and is witnessing an aggressive escalation of the scenario.”
As an alternative, Lavrov stated on Wednesday Ukraine ought to pursue a route that features all everlasting members of the United Nations Safety Council — which incorporates the Russian Federation and China.
What about ‘territory’ sticking factors?
President Trump, as he gathered with Zelenskyy and European leaders on the White Home, stated they wanted to “focus on the potential exchanges of territory bearing in mind the present line of contact.”
Trump has talked about land “swapping” nevertheless it’s unclear what Russia would supply Ukraine in return to conserving among the Ukrainian territory its gained since its invasion. Since February 2022, Russia has gained about 20% of Ukraine’s land.
However NATO Secretary-Common Mark Rutte stated territory swaps weren’t mentioned throughout Monday’s session.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with President Donald Trump and European leaders within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, August 18, 2025.
Ukrainian Press Service/AFP by way of Getty Photos
“We have now not mentioned that immediately, as a result of all people is evident, together with the president, that in the case of territory, that’s the Ukrainian president, who has mentioned this within the trilateral after which in all probability extra conversations after that, with the Russian management,” Rutte stated.
Moscow has set its sights on the Donbas area, together with Donetsk — which is alleged to be wealthy in mineral sources and serves as the economic coronary heart of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has lengthy opposed surrendering sovereign territory to Russia, saying the nation’s structure forbids it. Zelenskyy stated Ukraine have to be the decision-maker concerning its territory.
