Volodymyr Zelensky to meet Putin ‘within two weeks’ after White House talks

Donald Trump is arranging to have Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the same room.

The chat is reported to be taking place within the next two weeks to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said after talks at the White House.

The US President took to Truth Social to announce the move, saying: "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself."

It comes after he hosted Zelensky and key European leaders at the White House on Monday. In a shift from his tense chat with the Ukrainian President earlier this year, Zelensky, who arrived in a suit, presented Trump with a letter from his wife and a flurry of six "thank yous" within minutes of the pair reuniting. He later said the talks with Trump were the "best" so far, while Trump described the meeting as being "very good."

After the chat, Nato chief Mark Rutte said alliance membership for Ukraine was not discussed but that there was mention of "Article 5-type" security guarantees for the war-torn country. Sir Keir Starmer said "real progress" was made, and that Monday's White House meeting had brought about a "real sense of unity".

Speaking outside the White House, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was 'ready' for a long-awaited bilateral meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But the Ukrainian admitted that no details had been agreed as yet.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: "I can't imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire. So, let's work on that and let's try to put pressure on Russia".

Last week, ahead of his meeting with Putin in Alaska, Trump said during an Oval Office briefing that an even "more important" meeting - with Putin, Zelensky, and possibly European leaders - will follow. "We'll see if they can get along," he said of the leaders, adding that he believes the pair can "make peace."