Planned Diplomatic Outreach: Trump's Dual-Track Communications
Reuters, citing a senior U.S. official, reports that President Trump is set to engage in a sequence of diplomatic calls around the NATO summit aimed at facilitating de-escalation in Ukraine. The plan centers on an in-person meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, followed by a scheduled phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Central Agenda: Charting a Path to End the War
The official stated that Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy is scheduled for July 8. The discussion will focus squarely on exploring "how we end this war," underscoring the U.S. priority of advancing ceasefire and peace efforts. The report added that Trump is "eager to push for a swift end to the conflict." Consequently, following the talks with Zelenskyy, he is "then likely to call Putin," in an apparent move to mediate between the key parties.
Russia's Stated Position
Ahead of this planned call, Moscow had already signaled its stance through diplomatic channels. Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov previously stated that during a call with Trump, Putin communicated Russia's readiness to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine conflict based on proposals put forward by Moscow. Ushakov also noted that the two presidents had previously discussed the process of resolving the Ukraine issue, taking into account Trump's upcoming travel to Türkiye for the NATO summit.
This series of arrangements highlights how bilateral and small multilateral diplomacy, targeting regional conflict resolution, is intensifying on the sidelines of a major multilateral gathering. While a foundation for negotiation appears acknowledged by the involved parties, the pathway forward remains intricate.