US President Donald Trump said he has begun preparations to hold a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. He assured that the United States will support European security guarantees aimed at preventing Moscow from invading its neighbor again in the future once the current conflict ends.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky.” The post added, “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.”

Details of the security guarantees and Trump’s efforts to organize peace talks are still taking shape, following an expanded meeting at the White House that included Trump, Zelensky, and several European leaders. The European leaders expressed cautious optimism that Trump may be beginning to gain momentum in his effort to fulfill his campaign promise to end this exhausting war. (Agencies)