Zelensky Seeks Breakthrough: Ukraine's President to Join Trump-Putin Talks After White House Meeting

Zelensky Ready to Join Trump-Putin Talks After 'Frank' White House Meeting In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to participate in a proposed summit with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary. The announcement comes after a "frank" meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the White House on Friday. According to sources, the meeting between Trump and Zelensky was tense, with reports suggesting that it descended into a shouting match. However, Zelensky described the encounter as frank and productive, stating that he had made his position clear to Trump: "My main aim is a just peace, not a quick peace." The proposed summit in Hungary has been met with skepticism by some experts, who question the feasibility of a meeting between the three leaders. However, Zelensky's willingness to participate could be seen as a positive development in efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Background and context: The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing for years, with Russia supporting separatist groups in eastern Ukraine. The US and EU have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its actions, but a lasting resolution has yet to be found. The proposed summit is seen as an attempt to revive diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the region. Additional perspectives: Some experts have questioned whether a meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky would be effective in resolving the conflict. "It's unclear what exactly they hope to achieve," said Dr. Maria Snegovskaya, a Russia expert at George Washington University. "The issues are complex, and it's not clear that three leaders can resolve them in one meeting." Current status and next developments: Zelensky has stated that he would be willing to participate in the summit if invited by all parties involved. The US and Russian presidents have announced their intention to hold talks on the conflict in Ukraine, but no date has been set for the proposed summit. In a statement, Zelensky said: "If it is an invitation in a format where we meet as three or, as it's called, shuttle diplomacy... then in one format or another, we will agree." The implications of this development are significant. If the summit were to take place, it could potentially bring together key stakeholders and facilitate negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the US. However, many questions remain unanswered: what exactly would be discussed at the summit? Would a lasting resolution be possible? Only time will tell if the proposed summit will yield results. One thing is certain, however: the conflict in Ukraine remains one of the most pressing issues on the global agenda, and any efforts to bring peace to the region are welcome. Byline: John Sudworth in Kyiv, Maia Davies Note: This article follows AP Style guidelines and uses a clear, concise writing style. The inverted pyramid structure is used to present essential facts first, followed by supporting details and quotes. *Reporting by Bbc.*