The Kremlin has dismissed speculations of an imminent peace summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, despite fresh calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for both leaders to meet.
President Trump, who recently held talks with Putin in Alaska and hosted Zelensky alongside European leaders in Washington, admitted resolving the conflict “is a tough one” and warned that Putin “may not want to make a deal.” He suggested it might be better for Moscow and Kyiv to meet directly without him, though he pledged to attend if necessary.
While Putin told Trump he was “open” to dialogue, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later stressed that any meeting must first be prepared at expert level, echoing Moscow’s cautious stance.
Reports also emerged that Putin proposed Zelensky travel to Moscow for talks — a suggestion viewed as unrealistic by Kyiv.
NATO chiefs are expected to meet virtually on Wednesday, while the UK’s military head, Admiral Tony Radakin, is in Washington for discussions on possible security arrangements in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump signalled support for a permanent peace deal rather than a temporary ceasefire, saying the U.S. could provide “air support” if European nations commit ground forces.
However, he ruled out deploying American troops.
European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Finland’s Alexander Stubb, remain sceptical of Moscow’s willingness to negotiate, with Macron describing Putin as “a predator at our doorstep.”
Zelensky, however, has said he is open to “any format” of talks, as discussions continue on potential summit options.
The last direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky was in 2019, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has since claimed tens of thousands of lives and devastated Ukrainian cities.