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Putin has previously refused to meet with Zelensky anywhere except for Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to bypass traditional channels to get his rival to talk peace. His new plan relies heavily on a high-stakes trip to the United States.
Zelenskyy shared the details during an address to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference and later on X.
He explained that he recently talked through the option with US President Donald Trump. Together, they hope to craft an unavoidable confrontation.
The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, June 14. During the call, Zelenskyy noted that an American backdrop could completely alter the dynamic of their stalled peace process.
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A clever trap
“Yesterday we discussed with President Trump that such meeting could be organized in US in format in which it would be much more difficult for Putin to refuse at least President Trump,” the president noted.
The American plan is not the only option on the table. Kyiv is currently working multiple angles to ensure Russia faces a completely united global front.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine discussed organizing negotiations on the sidelines of the G7 summit with the US and France. This format would involve all democratic states.
So far, these efforts have hit a brick wall because Moscow refuses to cooperate.
Turning up pressure
“We offered Putin to meet anywhere where real decisions to end the war could be made. He does not want it. We discussed with the US and France the possibility of a meeting with Russia around the G7, with all democratic nations represented. Putin does not want it,” Zelenskyy said.
On the same day Trump spoke with Zelenskyy, the American president also called Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. Following that call, the Ukrainian leader agreed to meet Trump face-to-face at the upcoming G7 summit to hash out further details.
“We will see what comes of it. If Russia refuses this chance as well, additional pressure will be needed,” Zelenskyy added.
