Trump Seeks Putin-Zelenskyy Peace Talks Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict

President Donald Trump is actively seeking to facilitate direct peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, with plans for a high-level meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy potentially occurring within the next two weeks. Despite a White House announcement that Putin had agreed to such a meeting, Russian officials have denied any scheduled plans, creating uncertainty about whether the talks will happen. Trump has indicated he will assess which side is responsible if the meeting does not take place and has suggested that his response could range from imposing massive sanctions or tariffs to doing nothing and leaving the conflict to the parties involved. He has also abandoned previous demands for an immediate ceasefire and emphasized that the war would not have started during his presidency. European leaders remain cautiously optimistic about the peace process, while analysts note that Russia continues its military offensive, complicating diplomatic efforts. Trump’s approach reflects a balancing act between pushing for negotiations and preparing for consequences should talks fail, with a decision expected soon on his further involvement in the conflict resolution.