‘When, Not If’: Trump Confident On Trilateral Peace Talks With Russia, Ukraine

Last Updated:August 19, 2025, 02:13 IST

Trump emphasised that diplomatic groundwork is underway following his recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

European leaders in attendance expressed appreciation for the US president’s efforts (AFP Image)

The White House hosted a major multilateral summit on Monday, bringing together US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and several key European allies. The high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., marks a significant diplomatic push to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 2022.

During the talks, President Trump reiterated his ambition to broker a peace deal and confirmed he is hopeful about organising a trilateral summit involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine. “I think it’s going to be when, not if," Trump said, expressing confidence on the possibility of direct talks between all three nations. While no specific timeline has been established, Trump emphasised that diplomatic groundwork is underway following his recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The August 15 meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska marked the former’s first direct engagement with the Russian leader since returning to office. Monday’s meeting was Trump’s second in a row with the Ukrainian President this year, underlining his administration’s urgent push for a negotiated settlement.

Recalling his earlier optimism, Trump added, “It’s possible it might not be able to be done. On the other hand, it’s possible that it will. We have to give it our best. That’s all you can do."

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking briefly during the summit, proposed that Europe be formally included in any high-level negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine. “I think as a follow up, we would need probably a quadrilateral meeting. Because when we speak about security guarantees, we speak about the whole security of the European continent," Macron said.

Other European leaders in attendance expressed appreciation for the US president’s efforts. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted a noticeable shift in Russia’s stance since Trump’s re-engagement, “After three years that we didn’t see any kind of sign from the Russian side that they were willing for dialogue, so something is changing."

Trump, in turn, assured his European counterparts of his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution. “I’m optimistic that, collectively, we can reach an agreement," he stated. The ongoing summit builds momentum around a potential diplomatic breakthrough in one of the most devastating conflicts in recent European history.

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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 19, 2025, 02:13 IST

News world ‘When, Not If’: Trump Confident On Trilateral Peace Talks With Russia, Ukraine

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