Hopes for a direct summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to fade on Tuesday, as the Kremlin played down the prospects for such a meeting even as U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his call for negotiations to end the war.
Putin had told Trump earlier this week that he was “open” to the idea of direct talks with Kyiv. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov quickly tempered expectations, stating that any such meeting would need to be prepared “gradually” through expert-level discussions.
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s deputy UN envoy, echoed this cautious stance, telling the BBC that no side had “rejected” the chance for talks but warned against a meeting “for the sake of a meeting.”
Additionally, reports emerged that Putin suggested Zelensky travel to Moscow for talks—a proposal viewed by Kyiv as both unrealistic and strategically unacceptable.
Trump Pushes for Talks, Acknowledges Putin’s Potential Resistance
After hosting Zelensky and European leaders in Washington and meeting with Putin in Alaska last week, Trump admitted on Tuesday that the war was “a tough one” to resolve.
“We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks,” Trump said. “It’s possible that he doesn’t want to make a deal.”
While previously pledging he could secure a ceasefire, Trump has since shifted his focus to calling for a permanent peace deal. He suggested the U.S. could provide air support if European allies deployed ground forces in Ukraine, though he ruled out sending American troops.
European Allies Voice Scepticism
European leaders remain far less optimistic. French President Emmanuel Macron called Putin “a predator, and an ogre at our doorstep,” expressing “great doubt” that the Kremlin leader would work toward peace.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb added that Putin was “rarely to be trusted,” voicing scepticism about the possibility of a Zelensky-Putin summit.
In the meantime, Britain’s military chief, Admiral Tony Radakin, is heading to Washington for discussions on a “reassurance force” for Ukraine, while NATO chiefs are scheduled for a virtual meeting on Wednesday.
Complexities Cloud Peace Prospects
The last time Zelensky and Putin met was in 2019, years before Russia’s full-scale invasion devastated Ukrainian cities and displaced millions. Moscow continues to label Kyiv’s leadership as illegitimate and demands political changes as a precondition for peace—conditions that Kyiv has firmly rejected.
While Trump has shown renewed enthusiasm for talks, European leaders appear more focused on securing stronger defence guarantees for Ukraine should the war continue.
With Putin unlikely to compromise and Zelensky insisting on Ukraine’s sovereignty, the chances of a breakthrough remain slim. More high-level meetings are expected in Washington and across Europe this week as leaders weigh how to balance dialogue with deterrence.
