Yesterday's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida has opened a new perspective in peace talks.
Thus, the Trump-Zelensky meeting could be a step towards the first direct phone call between the Ukrainian president and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the last 5 years.
Modern.az reports that “Fox News” television channel disseminated information about this, citing a source familiar with the talks.
According to the source, the possibility of a direct phone connection between Zelensky and Putin is considered a major breakthrough in peace talks.
"If Putin had joined the phone call on Sunday, it would have been the biggest achievement in preparing for peace talks and the first real step in the peace process," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In the US, this prospect is already being called a "diplomatic victory" for Donald Trump. "This would be a diplomatic victory for President Trump," the source emphasized, adding that given the deep personal tension between Zelensky and Putin, Trump currently appears to be "the most successful mediator."
At the same time, the source notes that the main obstacle is Putin's unwillingness to speak directly with Zelensky. They last communicated in 2020, after the failure of Ukraine's special operation against “Wagner” militants. According to the source, since then, Putin has repeatedly refused direct talks, and potential communication windows in 2024 disappeared after the Ukrainian army's operation in the Kursk region.
Nevertheless, Washington believes that the current talks, involving the US, could compel Moscow to establish direct contact. Discussions have focused on a 20-point peace plan supported by the US, which, according to American officials, has already been approximately 90% agreed upon.
Zelensky, for his part, explicitly emphasizes that legally binding security guarantees from the US remain a fundamental condition for any agreement for Ukraine.
The White House and American mediators acknowledge that even a single phone call between Zelensky and Putin could be a turning point and the first real signal that the parties are ready to move from behind-the-scenes contacts to direct dialogue.
Last night, the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky concluded.
The meeting between the parties, held at the Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, USA, lasted for over 3 hours. The proposed 20-point peace plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine was the main topic of discussion for the leaders.
