AFP: Putin signals readiness for meeting with Zelenskyy in call with Trump

According to a source familiar with the discussions, Vladimir Putin agreed to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, making the statement during a phone call with Donald Trump. The US president had contacted the Kremlin during a break in his White House talks with European leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has already said that a Putin–Zelenskyy meeting should take place within two weeks, though the location still needs to be agreed upon.

Following the White House meetings, Trump announced that he had begun preparations for a summit between Zelenskyy and Putin, saying that the venue would be disclosed soon. He added that the bilateral meeting would be followed by a trilateral summit involving himself, which, he suggested, could mark the end of the Russia–Ukraine war.

So far, it is officially confirmed only that Putin is ready to raise the level of talks with Ukraine. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said Moscow also supported continuing contacts at the level of negotiating delegations.

According to Axios, Trump hopes that the Zelenskyy–Putin meeting can be organized by the end of August. An earlier tentative date of August 22 was mentioned, but neither the timing nor the venue has been confirmed.