Rubio Confirms Putin Ready To Meet Zelensky, Possible Trilateral Talks With Trump Underway

August 19, 2025 MTIMES 62 Views Putin Zelensky direct talks, Rubio confirms Putin Zelensky meeting, Russia Ukraine peace talks, Russia US relations, security guarantees Ukraine, Trump trilateral summit, Trump Zelensky Oval Office, Ukraine war diplomacy 3 min read

In a major diplomatic development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has told U.S. President Donald Trump that he is willing to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for direct talks. Speaking in an interview, Rubio said that such a meeting would mark a significant moment in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has remained deadlocked for more than three years.

Rubio acknowledged that an immediate peace deal is unlikely but emphasised that the fact both leaders are ready to come to the table is a “big deal”. According to the Secretary of State, the U.S. is now working to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, and if that progresses well, a trilateral summit involving Donald Trump will follow.

Rubio Confirms Putin Zelensky Meeting – First Direct Talks in Three Years

The Rubio confirms Putin Zelensky meeting remarks point to growing momentum for a diplomatic resolution. “Just the fact that Putin is saying ‘sure, I’ll meet with Zelenskyy’ is a big deal,” Rubio said, explaining that communications of this nature had been non-existent since the war began. He noted that the goal was now to move towards a trilateral format, with Trump joining the talks if the bilateral meeting is successful.

Trump Plans Trilateral Summit After Initial Bilateral

President Trump posted on Truth Social that he has already discussed potential locations for the Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, and stated that a trilateral meeting involving both leaders and himself would follow. He also confirmed that security guarantees for Ukraine are being discussed, with Europe taking the lead role and coordinating closely with Washington. Trump added that Putin had agreed to Western-led security guarantees for Ukraine, though still rejects the country’s potential NATO membership.

Rubio Confirms Putin Zelensky Meeting – Compromise Will Be Essential

In his comments, the Rubio confirms Putin Zelensky meeting update also stressed the importance of compromise. Rubio said it would be “unrealistic” for either side to expect 100 percent of its demands to be met, noting that both Russia and Ukraine would need to be willing to “give and receive” in order to reach even a preliminary peace agreement.

Zelensky-Trump Meeting ‘Best Yet’ as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify

During his visit to Washington, President Zelenskyy also held a one-on-one meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office. Zelenskyy described the discussion as their “best” meeting so far. Analysts see these developments as a major shift in tone and suggest that new diplomatic efforts could create space for a possible peace framework in the coming weeks, even though significant challenges remain.

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