A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled for August 15th, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine expected to be the central topic. Leading up to the meeting, Trump issued a warning to Russia, stating that Putin would face serious consequences if he does not agree to a ceasefire during their discussions. Trump also mentioned the potential for a second meeting with the Russian President, possibly including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Prior to the Trump-Putin meeting, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy engaged in discussions with European leaders and Trump. Following these conversations, Zelenskyy stated that the United States is prepared to provide support and informed the U.S. President that Putin is ‘deceiving’ regarding the effects of sanctions.
European leaders have demonstrated their strong support for Zelenskyy before the Putin-Trump meeting. German Chancellor Merz emphasized that securing a ceasefire is the priority, adding that Ukraine’s allies should intensify pressure on Russia if it does not agree.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged ongoing support for Ukraine and expressed gratitude to Trump for his efforts to facilitate negotiations with Putin.
Despite the global expectations surrounding the Trump-Putin meeting, the terms of a possible ceasefire remain undefined. Experts believe that Putin might demand some territory in exchange for a ceasefire, while the Ukrainian President has ruled out giving up any Ukrainian land.
At present, Russia controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Previous peace negotiations have taken place in Ankara, Turkey, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is yet to be determined whether Trump can successfully negotiate a ceasefire or if this attempt will fail.
