Karoline Leavitt reveals major progress in Ukraine-Russia peace talks
Putin agrees to bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy in major step toward ending war
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking a significant step towards ending the years-long war between the two nations. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced this development during Tuesday’s press briefing, indicating the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving the U.S. after Putin and Zelenskyy meet.
According to Leavitt, “President Trump spoke with President Putin by phone, and he agreed to begin the next phase of the peace process, a meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, which would be followed by a trilateral meeting if deemed necessary.”
Leavitt mentioned that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will work towards coordinating with Russia and Ukraine to facilitate the meetings at the earliest convenience.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Putin Photo: Sputnik/Gavri Grigorov/Pool Via Reuters; Zelenskyy Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)
Key Moments from Recent Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting
The announcement follows a gathering at the White House where Zelenskyy and several European leaders met to debrief following Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska. Leavitt highlighted the praise from European leaders for Trump’s efforts in the peace process.
According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, “In the past two weeks, we’ve probably had more progress in ending this war than we have in the past three-and-a-half years.” U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also acknowledged the significant progress made under Trump’s leadership.
President Donald Trump and European leaders gather for a multilateral meeting in the White House on Aug. 18, 2025. (REUTERS/Alexander Drago)
Trump’s Role in Facilitating Peace Talks
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte thanked Trump for breaking a “deadlock” and getting Putin to the negotiating table. Various European leaders, including Zelenskyy, Macron, Merz, Meloni, and von der Leyen, also commended Trump’s peace efforts.
During a joint press conference, Putin acknowledged that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump had won the 2020 election, aligning with Trump’s long-standing claims.
President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Questions have arisen regarding Trump’s plans for ensuring Ukraine’s security beyond 2028. Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich raised this concern, prompting Leavitt to emphasize Trump’s understanding of the necessity for long-term security guarantees, as discussed with European leaders and NATO post-Alaska summit.
