President Trump and the White House are actively arranging a high‑level meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with discussions already underway and Swiss officials offering possible diplomatic safeguards.
White House Confirms Summit Plans
During a White House press briefing, a reporter asked whether Washington and its allies were working toward a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia, and whether President Vladimir Putin was even interested. Karoline Leavitt answered decisively yes, stating that the U.S. presidential and cabinet teams are “working toward bilateral talks.” President Donald Trump has spoken on the matter with both sides, conveying positive signals. The White House’s international security team is actively coordinating the logistics of such a summit.
Safety Guarantees for Ukraine
On Monday, at President Trump’s invitation, President Zelenski arrived in Washington. After the leaders’ discussions, European heads of state and government—including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary‑General Jens Stoltenberg, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb—joined the talks. A key subject was security guarantees for Ukraine. The White House assured that no American ground forces would be deployed in Ukraine, but the United States would assist in coordinating broader security guarantees for European allies.
Consideration of Swiss Immunity for Putin
Reporters asked whether Putin had suggested Moscow as the venue for a meeting with Zelenski. Leavitt said she could not comment on private discussions between Trump and Putin. She noted that various options were being explored. On Tuesday, August 19, the Swiss government announced it would be ready to grant President Putin diplomatic immunity if he traveled to Switzerland for peace talks about Ukraine. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis conveyed that Switzerland had previously outlined immunity conditions for individuals subject to international arrest warrants. Putin has been under such a warrant since March 2023, issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes involving the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine.
Source: Gazeta,