A potential breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has emerged after a series of fast-moving talks between Donald Trump and European leaders.
According to Trump, he has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, paving the way for a historic peace summit.
“Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network.
Trump’s discussions with Putin and Zelensky have raised hopes of a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which has been ongoing for nearly three and a half years.
The US president said he had begun arrangements for a meeting between Putin and Zelensky, with a location to be determined.
“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 Zelensky,” Trump said.
A three-way summit with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders is also planned.
The talks focused on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, with Trump saying Putin had agreed to them despite ruling out Kyiv’s NATO membership.
“The guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump explained.
NATO chief Mark Rutte described the meeting as “very successful,” with Trump “really breaking the deadlock.”
European leaders have expressed cautious optimism about the talks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Putin had agreed to a bilateral meeting within the next two weeks, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for stepped-up sanctions against Russia if Putin doesn’t move forward on peace.
Finnish President Alex Stubb warned that Putin is “not to be trusted.” Zelensky confirmed he was “ready” for a bilateral meeting with Putin.
The Financial Times reported that Ukraine had undertaken to buy $100 billion worth of US weapons financed by Europe in return for US security guarantees.
Zelensky mentioned a $90 billion package and said Ukraine and its allies would finalize the terms within 10 days.
However, concerns remain about Trump’s stance on key issues, including Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Merz emphasized that Ukraine shouldn’t be forced to surrender the Donbas region, comparing it to the US giving up Florida.
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