US President Donald Trump announced on Monday, August 18, that he is arranging a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He described it as a “very good, early step” toward ending the four-year war.

Trump Confirms Arrangements

To begin with, Trump said he already spoke with Putin. “I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” he wrote on Trump Social.

Furthermore, he revealed plans for a trilateral session. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” he added.

White House Talks with Europe and NATO

Earlier in the day, Trump met Zelensky, NATO officials, and European leaders at the White House. As a result, he claimed the discussions showed progress.

“I had a very good meeting with distinguished guests which ended in a further meeting in the Oval Office,” Trump posted. He stressed that the talks focused on European-led security guarantees for Ukraine, coordinated with Washington. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” he added.

Afterward, Trump paused the talks and called Putin directly.

The meeting also included French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

US Prepares Logistics

Meanwhile, Trump said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are working on logistics with Moscow and Kyiv. He underlined the importance of the effort, saying, “This was a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years.”

Trump and Putin Speak for 40 Minutes

Soon after, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin thanked Trump for the “hospitality and progress” during their Alaska summit.

According to Russian media, both leaders spoke for 40 minutes. They agreed to support direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators. In addition, they decided to keep close contact on Ukraine and other global issues.

Security Guarantees for Ukraine

Moreover, Trump said he discussed security guarantees for Ukraine. He noted that Putin accepted the idea but still opposed Ukraine joining NATO.

Trump explained, “the guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America.”

In response, NATO chief Mark Rutte called it a “very successful meeting” with “the president really breaking the deadlock.”

“Today was really about security guarantees, the US getting more involved there, and all the details to be hammered out over the coming days,” Rutte told reporters.

Similarly, Zelensky said allies would finalize the guarantees within 10 days.

European Leaders Voice Concerns

However, the presence of European leaders showed unease. They remain worried that Trump could lean closer to Putin. Earlier, Trump had urged Ukraine to surrender Crimea and drop its NATO ambitions. Both are central demands of Moscow.

As a counter, French President Emmanuel Macron pressed for tougher sanctions on Russia if peace does not advance. Likewise, Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that Putin is not “to be trusted.”

Finally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected Moscow’s claim on Donbass. He said, “The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbass corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida.”