Diplomatic push on trilateral talks

Zelenskyy supports a trilateral format with the U.S. and Russia as allies gather to keep diplomacy moving after failed Alaska talks.

Trump enlists Zelenskyy and European allies after Putin talks fizzle

Brussels confirmed a wide slate of European leaders joined the discussion after the first round of talks with Russia faltered. Macron, Merz, Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and several other European figures were listed as participants in a broader call. Zelenskyy said he spoke one-on-one with Trump before the group joined and that Ukraine supports a trilateral Ukraine–U.S.–Russia format for discussing key issues at the leaders’ level. He will travel to Washington on Monday to meet Trump.

A second call was held without Zelenskyy and the Americans to discuss the situation. EU diplomats described the session as an extraordinary meeting of ambassadors representing all 27 member countries, arranged in a restricted format to minimize leaks. Earlier, Friday’s talks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska failed to yield a diplomatic breakthrough, even as Trump signaled openness to a peace process rather than a ceasefire alone.

The background includes President Putin’s status before the International Criminal Court and the broader question of whether a high-level format can produce a durable path toward peace. The moves show a renewed effort by Washington and Brussels to press for dialogue even as core disagreements remain unresolved.

The maneuver signals a shift in how diplomacy is conducted. By stitching together a presidency’s influence with a broad European front, the move blends domestic political theater with foreign policy aims. It also underscores the risk that big names can crowd out steady, on-the-ground negotiations. If the trilateral forum gains momentum, it could redraw the tempo of the peace process; if it stalls, it will intensify questions about legitimacy and who is driving the talks.

For Kyiv, the outreach promises a potential channel to shape any settlement, but it also raises expectations that may be hard to meet. For Moscow, a high-profile format could offer leverage but also expose political vulnerabilities should talks stall. For European partners, there is appetite for dialogue, tempered by concerns about accountability, timing, and the risk of being drawn into a prolonged standoff rather than a swift resolution.

Highlights

Diplomacy remains a fragile and evolving path toward a lasting settlement.