Trump rejects Putin’s proposal for trilateral talks in Moscow
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump, like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejected Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s proposal to hold a trilateral meeting in Moscow, The New York Times reports.
During a phone call with Trump on August 18, Putin suggested the idea of a trilateral meeting in Moscow. According to a senior European diplomat, European leaders who witnessed the proposal were stunned.
European leaders were shocked by such a scenario, but Trump politely declined Putin, the diplomat said.
During the same call, Putin also proposed holding a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy in Moscow. However, the Ukrainian leader immediately rejected the offer.
It is possible that this rejection prompted the Kremlin to change its position. According to media reports, while Moscow initially considered a trilateral meeting, Putin is now demanding negotiations only with Zelenskyy, excluding Trump.
Zelenskyy–Putin meeting
After the White House meeting on August 18, Trump called Putin to discuss the possibility of a leaders’ summit. Russia pushed for a bilateral format first, with the option of a trilateral meeting involving Zelenskyy, Trump, and Putin later.
Potential venues for a Zelenskyy–Putin meeting include Geneva or Hungary. Switzerland has already announced it is ready to host the summit and provide Putin with immunity from the ICC.
