Overview

• Washington and European capitals are pressing for a sequence of a Putin–Zelensky bilateral followed by a trilateral with President Trump, with discussions pointing to late August or early September.
• Putin suggested Moscow as the venue, which Zelensky rejected, while Geneva is backed by several Europeans and U.S. planning for Budapest is underway with Secret Service advance work reported.
• Switzerland signaled it is preparing legal immunity to host Putin despite the ICC arrest warrant, a step framed as possible for peace talks.
• Trump said the United States will not deploy ground forces to Ukraine as part of any guarantees, while leaving open air support, as allies debate a NATO-style collective pledge versus a European military presence.
• Core disputes persist on Russia’s demand for control or recognition of occupied regions and on the return of deported Ukrainian children, even as large arms and industrial packages are discussed and prisoner exchanges show progress.