Overview

• President Trump said he has begun preparations for a Putin–Zelensky meeting, with a trilateral session to follow and the location still to be determined.
• German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Putin agreed to meet Zelensky and indicated it could occur within about two weeks, while Zelensky signaled readiness for a bilateral followed by a trilateral.
• Zelensky said Western partners plan to formalize security guarantees for Ukraine within seven to ten days, with the United States involved and European states coordinating commitments.
• European leaders pressed for a ceasefire as a precondition to further talks, Trump suggested it may not be necessary, and territorial issues were not discussed in Washington and were left for talks with Putin.
• Macron urged tougher sanctions on Russia if negotiations falter, and ongoing fighting, including a Russian drone strike that killed seven in Kharkiv, underscored the fragility of the moment.