Key Facts
• On August 18, President Trump met with President Zelensky and European leaders.
• Trump described the meeting as “very good” on his social media.
• Afterward, Trump held a 40-minute phone call with President Putin.
• Trump announced preparations for a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
• The meeting’s location will be decided later, with a potential three-party discussion.
• Coordination will involve Vice President Bance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Special Envoy Witkov.
• Russian aide Ushakov confirmed continued close communication between Trump and Putin.
• Both leaders supported ongoing Russia-Ukraine direct negotiations, held three times this year.
• Discussions included raising the level of representatives for future talks.
Summary
On August 18, President Trump announced preparations for a direct meeting between Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky following his discussions with Zelensky and European leaders. Trump described the talks as productive and revealed plans for a potential three-party meeting involving himself. Coordination efforts will be led by Vice President Bance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Special Envoy Witkov. A 40-minute phone call between Trump and Putin confirmed their commitment to maintaining close communication and supporting ongoing Russia-Ukraine negotiations. While the meeting’s location remains undecided, discussions about elevating the level of representatives for future talks were noted.
