Zelensky Calls for Three-Way Meeting with Trump and Putin Amid Renewed Peace Hopes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a three-way peace meeting involving former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential shift in efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict. The proposal emerged following a "constructive" meeting between Zelensky and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Norway.

Zelensky stated that he and Witkoff had discussed the possibility of a trilateral meeting to "address the issues that only the leaders can do." He added that Witkoff was scheduled to travel to Russia to gauge Putin's response. The meeting in Oslo, hosted by Norway and Finland, aimed to advance peace proposals for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A U.S. official described the talks with Zelensky and Witkoff as "very productive and constructive," noting "strong alignment at the working level" among the U.S., Ukraine, and European partners regarding future actions. Finnish President Alexander Stubb also indicated that "genuine progress" had been made on peace proposals, though specifics were not disclosed.

Witkoff, who has previously sought to broker a settlement without significant success, arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to meet with Russian leaders and convey proposals from European and American counterparts. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Moscow's willingness to consider new U.S. proposals but expressed no expectation of a breakthrough. Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the Russian president would host Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday.

These diplomatic exchanges suggest a renewed effort to build momentum for U.S.-led peace initiatives, more than four-and-a-half years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, past efforts by the Trump administration to end the war have yielded no substantial progress.

Meanwhile, at the White House, President Trump intensified pressure on Zelensky to reach an agreement with Russia, stating, "We want Zelensky to make a deal." Trump expressed frustration with the lack of tangible returns from U.S. support for Ukraine, warning of negative consequences if a deal is not struck.

In security-related developments, Zelensky announced that Kyiv is once again receiving early warnings about incoming Russian missiles, a capability that had been absent for at least a week. He credited improved intelligence sharing with American counterparts, including a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, for this change, emphasizing its life-saving importance.

This improvement in early warning systems came after Zelensky conveyed to U.S. lawmakers his belief that "some political decision has been made to slow down... support for us." He also highlighted Ukraine's dwindling supply of Patriot air defense interceptors and alleged delays by the Pentagon in delivering missiles purchased by other nations for Ukraine. Furthermore, Zelensky noted that speed restrictions on the use of SpaceX's Starshield satellite internet service continue to hinder battlefield operations.

Russia has persisted with its attacks on Ukraine. Over the past day, Russian missile and drone strikes on the Kyiv region resulted in four deaths and 27 injuries, including children. In the Obukhiv district, three were killed and six injured, with warehouse damage reported. In Bucha, one woman died and 21 people, including eight children, were injured, and hundreds of buildings sustained damage. Attacks on Tuesday morning on the Kyiv-Odesa highway killed three people and injured four, including a shuttle bus driver. Two more fatalities were reported in attacks on warehouses near Dnipro. Power outages affected 12 regions due to the strikes.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its forces targeted logistics centers, port infrastructure, and cargo ships in the Odesa region, and reported intercepting 136 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight.