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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could potentially meet in-person within the next two weeks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters via the New York Post.
Merz, who was among the European leaders that joined Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday (August 18), said that Putin agreed to a potential meeting at a yet to be determined location during a phone call with President Donald Trump. Trump reportedly called Putin, who “agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks,” during a pause in discussions with the European leaders, according to Merz.
Trump reportedly proposed that a meeting between the two leaders was necessary for peace negotiations to "truly begin" three-and-a-half years after Russia invaded Ukraine, Merz added.
“We don’t know whether the Russian president will have the courage to attend such a summit. Therefore, persuasion is needed,” he said.
Trump said he was "very happy" with the progress made during Monday's discussion with Zelenskyy and the other European leaders, which took place three days after his summit with Putin in Alaska last Friday (August 15).
"Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are coordinating with Russia and Ukraine. Thank you for your attention to this matter!