Trump calls on Putin to arrange the next step in peace talks

President Donald Trump says he talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin On Monday, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders of the White House, the next step in the peace process aims to end the war in Ukraine.

The President posted on his Truth Social The platform said Monday night that he called Putin at the end of the day of the meeting to start the “arrangement” between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterparts. Trump’s call for Putin reflects his decision to call Zelenskyy Friday’s Alaska summit in Putin.

“At the end of the meeting, I called President Putin and started arrangements for the meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky at a location to be determined,” Trump reported in the media.

Trump: Zelenskyy meeting is not “the end of the road” to ensure peace agreement

The president added that a trilateral meeting with the United States will also be held after the meeting between the two warring presidents.

“After the meeting, we will have a triangle, which will be two presidents, plus myself,” the president continued. “Again, this is a very outstanding early step that has been going on for nearly four years.”

Yury Ushakov, supreme assistant to Russian President Vladimir Putin CNN.

Putin reportedly “expressed support for direct negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations.”

President Donald Trump said he is working to meet between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after peace talks with European leaders on Monday in Washington, D.C. (Reuters)

Trump says no ceasefire is needed during high-risk meeting with Zelenskyy

Officials familiar with Monday’s talks also reportedly said Trump’s appeal to Putin was negotiated with European leaders present. White House. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly said Putin agreed to meet with Zelenskyy in two weeks on a call with Trump.

Earlier in the day, Trump was caught in a popular moment Emmanuel Macron Putin wants to find a resolution that will end the war in Ukraine.

President Donald Trump sat next to French President Emmanuel Macron at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders in Washington, D.C. on August 18, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“I think [Putin] Want to reach an agreement,” Trump whispered to Macron in the eastern room as he prepares for Monday’s talks. “I think he wants to reach an agreement for me, you know? Sounds crazy. ”

Click here to get the Fox News app

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House to comment on this, but received no response.