Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Aug 19: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to mediate direct peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, marking the most significant step yet in his effort to end the war that has raged for nearly four years. Speaking on Truth Social, Trump said he had already spoken with Putin and begun arrangements for a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, followed by a trilateral summit including himself.
The announcement followed separate meetings in Washington with Zelensky and top European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions focused on brokering a durable peace, with the highlight being a proposed multinational security guarantee for Ukraine, involving both European countries and the United States.
Trump claimed that Putin had agreed to the security framework, which would offer protection similar to NATO deployment, without Ukraine formally joining the alliance — a key sticking point for Moscow since the start of the war in 2022. Trump also indicated U.S. troops could potentially be part of a peacekeeping force, a move supported in principle by European leaders. British PM Starmer called the guarantees a “historic step.”
The announcement comes just days after Trump’s surprise summit with Putin, where he dropped his prior demand for an immediate ceasefire, catching both Zelensky and European leaders off guard. Trump now insists on negotiating a full peace deal directly, claiming his previous diplomatic efforts — such as in the Middle East — succeeded without preliminary ceasefires.
Zelensky described his latest meeting with Trump as “really good” and noted that they discussed “very sensitive points,” a sharp departure from their contentious encounter in February.
Despite the optimism, key challenges remain unresolved. The issue of territory currently occupied by Russian forces — especially Crimea and parts of Donetsk — was not settled. Trump’s recent social media post implied that Ukraine may have to relinquish its claim to Crimea, taken by Russia in 2014, while top Trump ally Marco Rubio acknowledged that territorial concessions may be necessary.
Another sticking point is the absence of a ceasefire, which European leaders are strongly advocating. Merz and Macron reiterated that a ceasefire must be a priority, especially in light of deadly Russian strikes that killed at least 10 people, including a child, in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia just hours before the talks in Washington.
The diplomatic flurry reflects a major shift in the Ukraine conflict narrative, as Trump positions himself at the center of a potential resolution. He credited the unprecedented gathering of leaders at the White House to his initiative, with Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni declaring, “Something has changed — thanks to you.”
Whether this bold plan leads to lasting peace remains to be seen, but the former president’s direct involvement and the inclusion of Russia in negotiations mark a dramatic pivot in the war’s trajectory.