Trump says he won't attend first Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump does not plan to be present at the first meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and Russia. It may take place in the coming weeks, as Trump says on Fox News.
When asked whether there was updated information about a possible meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in two weeks, Trump said that the leaders should hold a bilateral meeting.
“I think they are doing ok, I wouldn't say they are ever going to be best friends. We are just going to see. We are setting up a meeting... but they (Putin and Zelenskyy - ed.) are the ones who call the shots,” he said.
The US president noted that this meeting would take place without his participation, and the next one would be in a trilateral format.
“I think, maybe, they are getting along a little bit better than I thought. Otherwise, I wouldn't have set up a two-meeting. I would have set up a three, a trilet,” Trump added.
"What has surprised you the most between Zelensky and Putin ... ?"@POTUS: "I think the fact that maybe they're getting along a little bit better than I thought, otherwise I wouldn't have set up the [bilateral] meeting, I would've set up a three — a trilat." pic.twitter.com/Y7kGg2MWF4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 19, 2025
Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
Trump and Putin met on August 15 in Alaska. Already on August 18, the US president held lengthy talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.
After that, Trump called Putin to agree on the next meeting. Russia supported a bilateral meeting at the level of leaders. Then, a trilateral meeting of Zelenskyy, Trump, and Putin may take place.
According to media reports, possible venues for the Zelenskyy-Putin meeting could be Geneva or Hungary. The summit may take place in the coming weeks.
