In a major diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed willingness to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This potential dialogue marks the first serious sign of engagement after more than three years of war between Russia and Ukraine.
Rubio, speaking in an interview with Fox News, said Putin conveyed his openness to meet Zelensky during recent discussions with former US President Donald Trump.
“Just the fact that Putin is saying, ‘Sure, I’ll meet with Zelensky’—that’s a big deal. I’m not saying they will leave that room with a peace deal, but the fact that they are finally talking after years of a stalemated war is significant,” Rubio noted.
Towards a Possible Trilateral Summit
Rubio revealed that US officials are working on arrangements for the meeting between Putin and Zelensky. If progress is made, the next step would be a trilateral summit involving Trump as mediator.
“We’re not there yet, but the aim is to move towards a meeting where the two presidents, along with Trump, can work on finalizing a deal,” Rubio explained.
He further emphasized that any settlement would require compromises from both sides:
“Expecting one side to get 100 percent is unrealistic. That would mean surrender. Both sides will need to give and take.”
Trump’s Role in Peace Efforts
Trump confirmed on his platform, Truth Social, that he had personally spoken with Putin and initiated arrangements for a Putin-Zelensky meeting at a location yet to be decided.
“After that meeting takes place, we will have a trilateral, which would be the two Presidents plus myself,” Trump stated.
Trump also disclosed that discussions included security guarantees for Ukraine, with Europe expected to take the lead in coordination with Washington. While Putin continues to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership, Trump suggested that the Russian leader may accept Western-backed security assurances for Kyiv.
Zelensky’s Meeting with Trump
During his visit to Washington, President Zelensky held a one-on-one meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, which he described as their “best meeting yet.” This comes after previous tensions between the two leaders earlier this year.
With Putin’s apparent shift towards dialogue, the international community is closely watching whether these efforts will pave the way for a breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.