Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed a trilateral summit involving himself, US President Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This proposal arrives amid escalating hostilities and stalled peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelenskyy expressed willingness to engage in a three-way meeting if Putin is reluctant to meet one-on-one. "If Putin is not comfortable with a bilateral meeting, or if everyone wants it to be a trilateral meeting, I don’t mind. I am ready for any format," Zelenskyy stated, according to AFP reports.
Earlier peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have faltered, with Putin rejecting direct negotiations and dispatching a low-level delegation. Trump also refrained from participating in those discussions.
In addition to calling for dialogue, Zelenskyy urged the United States to impose stringent sanctions on Russia’s banking and energy sectors. He emphasized, "We are waiting for sanctions from the United States of America. Trump confirmed that if Russia does not stop, sanctions will be imposed. We discussed two main aspects with him — energy and the banking system. Will the US be able to impose sanctions on these two sectors? I would very much like that."
Recently, Trump has openly criticized Putin, labeling his actions as erratic and condemning the ongoing violence. "Putin has gone absolutely crazy," Trump remarked, expressing uncertainty about Putin's motivations. His comments came shortly before a Russian drone attack killed at least 12 people and injured numerous others.
Despite international pressure and potential new sanctions, Russia continues its aggressive campaign. Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, indicated intentions to control nearly all of Ukraine except a small area in the west, signaling no immediate willingness to de-escalate the conflict.