Volodymyr Zelenskyy Opens Door to Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin Summit as Ukraine War Enters New Phase
Kyiv / Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated he would be willing to take part in a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary — signalling a possible shift in the diplomatic architecture of the conflict in Ukraine.
The proposed meeting comes amid mounting pressure as the war enters its third year. Trump has reportedly been pressing Zelenskyy for territorial concessions in the Donbas region as a condition for peace talks — a move which has drawn sharp criticism from European Union foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas, who argued that pressuring the victim of aggression is “inappropriate”.
Simultaneously, the EU finalised an agreement to phase out all Russian gas imports by January 2028, reducing leverage Moscow has over the bloc — a strategic shift that has implications for Ukraine’s defence-backing and overall war dynamics.
In Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s openness to the summit comes with caveats: he reiterated that any peace negotiation must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and not reward Russian aggression. Kyiv also announced plans to purchase 25 Patriot air-defence systems, highlighting the military dimension that remains unresolved.
Why it matters:
The summit could mark a pivotal moment: either a diplomatic breakthrough or a hardening of divisions.
Ukraine’s stance will influence how Western allies respond — balancing war-fighting with negotiation.
The gas-import phase-out by the EU signals long-term reshaping of Europe’s energy and security landscape.
