(United States, 17th) On the 16th, US President Trump posted on social media saying that after his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House on the 18th, 'if all goes well,' he will arrange for a tripartite meeting between himself, Russian President Putin, and Ukraine.
According to comprehensive foreign news reports, after his meeting with Putin, Trump spoke with European leaders expressing hope that a US-Russia-Ukraine tripartite meeting could be held as early as the 22nd. Trump invited European leaders to the White House on the 18th to discuss the Ukraine issue. Zelensky has confirmed that he will visit the White House on the 18th at Trump's invitation.
Germany, the UK, and France will decide on the 17th whether and at what level to send representatives to attend the meeting in the US on the 18th.
On the 16th, the EU, together with the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Finland, and Poland, issued a joint statement indicating that Trump had briefed both the European side and Zelensky on his meeting with Putin, and that the European side supports the holding of a tripartite US-Russia-Ukraine meeting.
German Chancellor Merz said in an interview with German media that Trump, Zelensky, and Putin would hold a tripartite meeting, but the specific time and place had not yet been determined. He said that although the European side hopes for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Trump believes that a comprehensive peace agreement should be reached instead: 'If negotiations succeed, its value will exceed that of a ceasefire.'
Merz believes, 'The Trump-Putin meeting did not cross over the positions of Ukraine and the EU regarding territorial negotiations, which is good news.' What surprised the European side, he added, was that the US has changed its position and is now willing to work together with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
He said the 'date and venue of the tripartite meeting are not yet determined. We have proposed that a venue could be found in Europe.'
Trump and Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, on the 15th. Both sides described the meeting as 'constructive' and 'fruitful,' but no agreements were reached on issues such as a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. According to US media, although Trump claimed the meeting was successful and said he and Putin had reached consensus on most topics, Putin remains firm on his toughest stance, so the likelihood of a major breakthrough is not high.
Germany, the UK, and France will decide on the 17th whether and at what level to send representatives to attend the meeting in the US on the 18th.
On the 16th, the EU, together with the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Finland, and Poland, issued a joint statement indicating that Trump had briefed both the European side and Zelensky on his meeting with Putin, and that the European side supports the holding of a tripartite US-Russia-Ukraine meeting.
German Chancellor Merz said in an interview with German media that Trump, Zelensky, and Putin would hold a tripartite meeting, but the specific time and place had not yet been determined. He said that although the European side hopes for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Trump believes that a comprehensive peace agreement should be reached instead: 'If negotiations succeed, its value will exceed that of a ceasefire.'
Merz believes, 'The Trump-Putin meeting did not cross over the positions of Ukraine and the EU regarding territorial negotiations, which is good news.' What surprised the European side, he added, was that the US has changed its position and is now willing to work together with Europe to provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
He said the 'date and venue of the tripartite meeting are not yet determined. We have proposed that a venue could be found in Europe.'
Trump and Putin met in Anchorage, Alaska, on the 15th. Both sides described the meeting as 'constructive' and 'fruitful,' but no agreements were reached on issues such as a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. According to US media, although Trump claimed the meeting was successful and said he and Putin had reached consensus on most topics, Putin remains firm on his toughest stance, so the likelihood of a major breakthrough is not high.