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Diplomatic efforts push for a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, with Trump and European leaders seeking security guarantees for Ukraine tied to large arms deals.

West presses Putin to meet Zelenskyy with Trump backing security guarantees

Trump and Zelenskyy signaled they want a direct meeting with Vladimir Putin, potentially followed by a trilateral summit including Trump. A source in the European delegation said Putin suggested this sequence, while German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two leaders would meet within two weeks. The Kremlin has not publicly confirmed the plan, and the last Russia-Ukraine talks were in June in Turkey, where Putin stayed with a lower level delegation.

Zelenskyy, speaking after talks in Washington, said security guarantees for Ukraine would likely be worked out within about 10 days and would include a package of US weapons. He also noted proposals worth 90 billion dollars. Reports have linked a broader deal for drone production and arms purchases to these guarantees, with earlier suggestions of a 100 billion dollar package and a 50 billion dollar drone deal being floated by various outlets. British prime minister Keir Starmer described the White House discussions as good and constructive, highlighting two main outcomes: security guarantees and a bilateral Putin-Zelenskyy meeting followed by a trilateral with Trump. He stressed Ukraine’s need to be at the table on issues such as territory and prisoner exchanges.

The push toward a three-way dialogue marks a shift from narrow bilateral talks to a broader diplomatic gambit that uses security guarantees and a robust arms program as leverage. It tests Western unity, signaling that Europe and the United States are ready to back Ukraine with concrete guarantees while keeping Moscow at the table. The tight 10-day timeline for security assurances adds pressure but also heightens the risk of overpromising. If the plan falters, it could feed skepticism about Western resolve and complicate domestic politics in partner countries faced with large defense budgets. The diplomacy also carries the risk that weapons deals become the central currency of peace, potentially sidelining humanitarian and territorial considerations. Realists will watch for how any agreement addresses verification, enforcement, and potential leakage to political rivals.

Highlights

Diplomacy moves fast, but promises carry costs that only time will reveal.