Fresh details have surfaced about US President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to a report by Axios, Trump expressed his desire to host a trilateral meeting involving Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 22.

Trump’s Proposal for Quick Talks

Sources told Axios that Trump informed Zelenskyy and European leaders in a phone call that he wanted the summit to happen “fast,” possibly as early as the coming Friday. However, it remains uncertain whether Putin will agree to participate.

The latest revelation comes after Trump and Putin held a three-hour discussion in Alaska. During that meeting, Putin suggested that the next round of talks should take place in Moscow. Trump admitted he might face heavy criticism if he accepted the invitation but did not rule it out, calling such a meeting “possible.” However, holding talks in Moscow could create a serious security risk for Zelenskyy, given Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia for the past three years.

Putin’s Demands on Eastern Ukraine

Sources familiar with the discussion said Putin adopted a hardline stance. He insisted that Ukraine should fully withdraw from Donetsk and Luhansk, two eastern regions claimed by Russia. He also demanded that Ukraine freeze the front lines in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

Russia currently controls nearly all of Luhansk and about three-quarters of Donetsk. While suggesting this arrangement, Putin offered a limited concession: he would stop advancing further in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia if Ukraine surrendered Donetsk completely.

Limited Chances of a Breakthrough

According to one source, “a major breakthrough appears to be unlikely” given Putin’s demands. Russia has not made significant military progress in those regions for months, yet the proposal still seeks large territorial concessions from Ukraine.

Conflicting Impressions from US and Ukraine

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian source noted that US officials left the talks with the impression that Putin might be open to negotiating over small parts of Sumy and Kharkiv still under Russian control. However, overall, the proposal leaned heavily toward Russia gaining more territory than Ukraine, raising doubts about the possibility of any fair settlement.