Following a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump has indicated a pursuit of a comprehensive peace agreement in Ukraine, rather than initially negotiating a ceasefire.
Trump stated on Saturday that he and European leaders, alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, are in agreement that this direct approach represents “the best way” to end the ongoing conflict. He further commented that ceasefires have historically proven unreliable in their implementation.
The US President also confirmed a scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday. “If everything works out” Trump stated, a meeting with President Putin will be arranged following that discussion. He did not elaborate on specific details regarding the potential “agreement” discussed with Putin during their earlier encounter.
In the aftermath of a recent summit in Alaska, the US President briefed European leaders on the content of his conversation with the Russian President. Subsequently, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited the group to a follow-up discussion, where a unified approach to future steps in a potential Ukrainian peace process was reportedly coordinated. Sources within the government indicated the Chancellor concluded by informing the Federal Cabinet of the meeting’s outcomes.