Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to hold a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday.
The announcement came after a phone call between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which both leaders reportedly agreed to the meeting. A trilateral summit involving Trump could follow.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Merz said, “The American president spoke with the Russian president and agreed that there would be a meeting between the Russian president and the Ukrainian president within the next two weeks.” However, he noted lingering uncertainty over whether Putin will “have the courage” to attend.
Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that high-level negotiations would continue, though he did not confirm Putin’s personal participation.
The White House talks, which included several European leaders, focused on the next phase of diplomatic negotiations. Both Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that a ceasefire must precede any peace agreement—something Putin opposes, instead pushing for an immediate deal.
Major sticking points remain, particularly Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede significant territory—a condition Kyiv refuses to accept.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the summit as “good and constructive,” highlighting two outcomes: strengthened U.S.-European cooperation on security guarantees for Ukraine, and a tentative agreement for the Zelensky-Putin meeting, potentially followed by trilateral talks involving Trump.
Macron emphasized that any settlement must allow Ukraine to maintain “a robust army capable of resisting any attack,” with no limits on its size or capabilities. He also warned that further sanctions would be imposed if Russia obstructs progress. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed this, stating that the U.S. and Europe are prepared to escalate tariffs and sanctions if Moscow stalls negotiations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that Trump had pledged support for efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. “Every single Ukrainian child must be returned to their families,” she said, thanking Trump for his commitment. Trump later called the issue a global priority, noting that it is “very important” to First Lady Melania Trump.