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VOLODYMYR Zelensky and Vladimir Putin will sit down for face-to-face talks “within two weeks”, the German Chancellor revealed.
The Ukrainian leader said he was “ready” to speak to Putin in-person under any circumstances – with the historic meeting set to be followed by a trilateral one with Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters after the summit with European allies and the US President on Monday, Zelensky said: “We are ready for [a] bilateral with Putin.”
Ukrainian and Russian aides have met up multiple times since the outbreak of the war in 2022 – but have never managed to put a peace deal in place.
The Ukrainian President also said that Trump’s security guarantees were a “key issue” and a necessary “starting point for ending the war”.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that the Russian tyrant would be meeting Zelensky “within two weeks” – but added the location hadn’t yet been confirmed.
It comes after the meeting between Trump and European allies was put on hold while Trump phoned Putin to push him to agree to trilateral talks.
Trump initially said he would call the Russian President after today’s talks – but he instead decided to call the despot in the middle of the summit.
Trump is believed to have taken the call, which reportedly lasted 40 minutes, in a different part of the White House so it remained a private conversation.
Top Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin warmly thanked the US President for Friday’s meeting in Alaska during the impromptu call, and said that the pair spoke in favour of continuing talks between Russia and Ukraine.
It comes after Trump vowed to “secure” Ukraine and outlined security guarantees for Kyiv as part of the historic talks.
Trump and Zelensky kicked off the summit in Washington with a friendly handshake before heading into the Oval Office for one-on-one talks.
After their meeting, a host of European allies, led by Sir Keir Starmer, sat down with Trump and Zelensky.
The leaders of France, Finland Germany and Italy alongside the heads of Nato and the EU all joined the talks.
All seven leaders said they will always be on the side of Ukraine and that the conflict with Russia must end.
Each leader called for security guarantees and said a meeting with Putin and Zelensky must come next.
It followed a private summit between the US and Ukrainian delegations.
The US President told reporters: “The war is going to end. This gentleman wants it to end, Vladimir Putin wants it to end, I think the whole world is tired of it, and we’re going to get it ended.”
Trump also warned: “If we don’t have a trilat, then the fighting continues.”
Zelensky, who wore a black military-style suit, nodded along as Trump spoke adding he is ready to sit down with the despot and shake hands over a peace agreement.
An upbeat Zelensky started the talks by directly thanking Trump and the US for their role in peace talks.
He also handed President Trump a letter from his own wife intended for Melania Trump.
Zelensky pleaded for support from “American and European partners” and said Ukraine supported the idea of Trump trying to stop the war
Trump vowed to show support for Kyiv in the form of security guarantees, saying: “There’s going to be a lot of help. It’s going to be good.
“They [Europe] are, the first line of defence because they’re there, but we’re going to help them out also – we’ll be involved when it comes.”
Follow The Sun’s live blog below for all the latest updates…
‘Next steps will be more complicated’, German leader says
Putin-Zelensky meeting to happen within two weeks, Merz says
Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky will meet within the next two weeks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says.
He said that the meeting location was not yet confirmed, but added that it would be followed by a trilateral meeting involving Trump.
World leaders pictured at today’s summit
‘These are decisive days for Ukraine’, German leader says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters after the meeting with European allies: “There’s a feeling that these are decisive days for Ukraine.”
He added that he was unsure if Putin would have the courage to attend a bilateral summit with Zelensky.
But he hailed Trump’s announcement of possible security guarantees.
Trump-Putin call was ‘frank’ and ‘fairly constructive’, Kremlin says
The 40-minute phone call between Trump and Putin during today’s meeting with European leaders was “frank” and “fairly constructive”, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov says.
Putin and Trump reportedly discussed “the idea of exploring the possibility of raising the level of representatives of Moscow and Kyiv at the talks”.
Summary of the summit
by Harry Cole, in Washington DC
The leaders talked for several hours this evening after the Europeans hailed the significant progress of Trump offering US security guarantees.
The overrunning summit was paused while the US President called Vladimir Putin to update him on developments and potentially set up a trilateral meeting alongside the Ukrainians.
Afterwards, the leaders retired to the Oval Office for further unscheduled talks without their aides present.
More details on Trump-Putin call
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that Putin warmly thanked the US President during the impromptu call today, Russian state media reports.
He added that Trump and Putin spoke in favour of continuing talks between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump says he has started ‘arrangements for a meeting’ between Putin and Zelensky
Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social that he called Vladimir Putin during his meeting with European leaders.
He also said in his latest post: “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.”
Trump outlines next steps in Truth Social post
Trump-Putin call ‘lasted 40 minutes’
Trump and Putin’s impromptu call ‘lasted about 40 minutes’, top Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
The US President phoned his Russian counterpart during his meeting with European leaders this evening, Bild reported.
Listen: Trump caught on hot mic during Zelensky summit
Trump was caught telling Emmanuel Macron: “I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me.
“You understand that? As crazy as that sounds.”
He appears to be referencing Putin with the comment.
Trump caught on hot mic during Zelensky summit revealing whether he thinks peace in Ukraine can happenFears Russian bombers are readying to attack Ukraine
Ukraine’s Air Force has said that two Russian strategic bombers took off from Russian airfields and appear to be gearing up for a possible attack on Ukraine.
“We will provide additional updates if the situation changes,” the Air Force said on the Telegram
In pictures: How the day unfolded
Zelensky lands in Washington
Ukrainian delegation meeting with US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg
European leaders hold initial talks at Ukrainian embassy in Washington
Keir Starmer and the European leaders arrives at the White House
President Donald Trump greets Zelensky
Trump and Zelensky speak in the Oval Office
Group photo of European leaders
European leaders hold talks with Trump
Starmer shares touching message to Ukraine
Ukraine ‘to buy $100m worth of US weapons’
Ukraine will buy $100 million worth of US weaponry, it was claimed tonight.
It will reportedly be financed with help from Europe, as part of Trump’s security guarantee plan.
Talks have reportedly resumed in the White House
Donald Trump, Zelensky and the European leaders in Washington have moved to the Oval Office to continue their talks.
Sources in the Ukrainian delegation told the BBC that they are still speaking on ways to end the war.
Ukrainian president’s spokesperson Serhii Nikiforov told journalists: “After a break, talks resumed in the Oval Office in a ‘leaders only’ format.”
Watch: Zelensky thanks Trump and Europe 8 times in first minute of Trump talks
A look at The Sun’s front page for Tuesday
Plenty of smiles in the White House after a positive summit
Von der Leyen congratulates ‘allies and friends’ on talks
Zelensky to stay in Washington for more talks
Volodymyr Zelensky will stay in Washington for more talks, his team have announced.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian leader told NBC: “The meeting has ended, but European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are staying for now in DC to continue talks, potentially in another format.”
Talks have now concluded
The talks between Trump and European leaders have now reportedly ended.
Trump interrupts meeting with European leaders to call Putin
Donald Trump has reportedly interrupted the meeting with European leaders to call Vladimir Putin, Bild reports.
Trump said he would call the Russian leader after meeting with the leaders in Washington.
What could US security guarantees look like?
Security guarantees will be a focus point of any future peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The guarantees, which could imitate Article 5 of NATO, may take a few different forms.
- American boots on the ground: Trump did not rule out the possibility of this during talks today. But the prospect would mark a significant shift in policy as the US President has previously talked down the idea of US involvement in Ukraine.
- Logistics: If Trump decides to remain less militarily involved in the conflict, the US could help the Coalition of the Willing to support Ukraine in a logistical manner.
- Air or sea patrols: The US Air Force is already operating surveillance flights over the Black Sea, south of Ukraine, and elsewhere in order to keep track of the fighting. A maritime patrol, however, may signify a much more direct involvement in the war and could be seen as confrontational.
- Intelligence: Having already been critical to Ukraine’s defence against Russian attacks, the US may be happy to continue this area of assistance as part of a long-term security guarantee.
US boots on the ground not ruled out
Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of American boots on the ground as part of US security guarantees in any long-term peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The fact that he did not rule this out marks a stark contrast from his position on the war in Ukraine at the start of this year.
