Putin floated holding a meeting with President Zelensky in Moscow, a notion immediately rejected by Ukraine. Meanwhile, discussions are underway about neutral venues such as Switzerland, Turkey, and Italy, and an unofficial plan for an August trilateral summit is reportedly in motion, with President Trump claiming to orchestrate the talks.
Moscow as the Proposed Venue
According to two anonymous sources cited by AFP, Putin mentioned Moscow as a possible location for talks with President Zelensky. When summoned, Ukraine’s President, who was attending a White House meeting with European leaders, answered with a succinct “no.”
Official Ukrainian Stance
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Siergiej Lawr stated that any summit must be built gradually, starting with experts and moving through all necessary stages, reflecting caution toward direct engagement with Moscow.
Neutral Sites Under Consideration
The media have highlighted several potential venues for a Zelensky‑Putin dialogue, including Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, and Hungary. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis signaled Switzerland’s readiness to grant Putin immunity if he came for peace talks, noting that an ICRC arrest warrant remains in place for alleged deportations of Ukrainian children.
Unconfirmed August Meeting Plan
In unofficial reports, President Donald Trump announced that preparations were underway for a bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with a subsequent trilateral conference involving the U.S. President. Unnamed U.S. officials indicated that Vice‑President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would steer the negotiations following a phone call between Trump and Putin after the White House summit.
Trump’s Vision for Peace
Trump described the proposed session as “very good,” noting that European guarantees could secure Ukraine’s safety under a peace agreement with Russia, while Washington would maintain a supervisory role.
Sources:
Reuters, IAR, Politico
Source: Gazeta,
