Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he discussed organizing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the U.S. to make “real decisions” to end the war.

Zelensky has proposed a face-to-face meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the upcoming G7 summit in France, where U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders would participate. 

“We discussed with the U.S. and France the possibility of a meeting with Russia around the G7, with all democratic nations represented. Putin does not want it,” the Ukrainian President said in a video message on Monday. 

“Yesterday, we discussed with President Trump that such a meeting could be organized in the U.S. – in a format where Putin would find it much harder to refuse, at least to President Trump,” Zelensky added.

He said that the outcome remains to be seen, emphasizing that further pressure would be necessary should Russia reject this latest opportunity. 

Ongoing War and the Potential for Renewed Peace Talk 

The war in Ukraine, ongoing since February 24, 2022, has prompted multiple efforts by Washington to organize trilateral meetings with Putin and Zelensky, though a face-to-face summit among all three leaders has not yet materialized. 

For many months, the war in Ukraine was overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East. However, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the G7, Trump said today that, “Maybe we can do something on Ukraine. I think both Putin and Zelensky are open to it.”

Putin Dismisses Zelensky Meeting Until 'Solutions' Reached 

On June 5, while attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin stressed that there is “no point” in meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart. 

Putin noted that experts in both countries should “develop some solutions, and then we can meet.” 

He affirmed that the military operation will end “someday”, adding that, “Without a doubt, they will end once we have achieved the goals we have set for ourselves.”