Here's what's standing in the way of Trump's Russia-Ukraine peace summit

The White House insists Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky will soon meet for peace talks. The Kremlin seems far less certain.Why it matters: Putin has shown no interest in sitting down with Zelensky through 3.5 years of war. President Trump claims that's now changed, and that a presidential meeting is the key to unlocking peace.Driving the news: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared Wednesday that Putin had agreed to move to the "next phase" of the peace process — a bilateral meeting with Zelensky. Trump wants that meeting to take place by the end of August, ideally much sooner. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sang a very different tune on Wednesday. Any presidential summit should be preceded by a "step by step" process of lower-level talks, he told state media.That mirrors Moscow's previous position that the leaders could meet to sign an agreement, but not open negotiations for one.Right now, the parties are very far apart on the key issues of security guarantees and territorial concessions. Even if they do meet, the swift peace deal Trump is hoping for appears unlikely.Why Putin is reluctant to meet ZelenskyPutin started this war seeking regime change in Kyiv, and has conducted a string of assassination attempts on Zelensky in years since, according to Ukraine's security services.Putin has stopped talking so much about "denazification" as a war aim, but he might be reluctant to show Ukraine or Zelensky personally the respect of sitting down as equals.The intrigue: Many European and Ukrainian officials also suspect that Putin is playing for time in Trump's peace process, rather than actively seeking a deal.Agreeing in principle to meet Zelensky but not rushing to get it on the calendar might therefore make sense from his perspective.What will the format beTrump repeatedly said he expected to attend the meeting with Putin and Zelensky if both leaders wanted him there.Zelensky said publicly that he did want Trump at the summit. But Trump changed his tune on Tuesday after a call with Putin, stating that there should be a Putin-Zelensky meeting first followed by a trilateral "if necessary."Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wouldn't say why Trump changed his mind about the format.Between the lines: A meeting with Zelensky might be easier for Putin to blow off, or end inconclusively, than one involving the president of the United States.Sticking point #1: Security guaranteesKyiv is adamant that it will need some type of security guarantees from its allies in order to prevent a renewed Russian invasion after the war ends.Senior officials from the U.S. and several European countries are planning to work together in the coming days to hammer out a detailed proposal.Trump said Tuesday that there would be no U.S. troops on the ground, but American air power could be involved. The other side: Putin expressed openness in principle to security guarantees for Ukraine during his summit with Trump last week, Axios previously reported. But Russia's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it "categorically" rejects the possibility of "a military contingent with the participation of NATO countries" inside Ukraine.Sticking point #2: TerritoryPutin wants Ukraine to withdraw entirely from two of its eastern regions (Donetsk and Luhansk) and freeze the battle lines in two more (Kherson and Zaporizhzhia), according to sources familiar with Putin's positions during the Alaska summit.That would require Zelensky to hand over a vast swathe of land in Donetsk, much of it heavily fortified — a proposal he's almost certain to reject.Zelensky has said he's prepared to discuss issues of territorial control if Putin agrees to meet. But he's also ruled out ceding territory outright. What to watch: The White House has raised the idea of "land swaps," which could result in some territory remaining internationally recognized as Ukraine while being de facto controlled by Russia. That would be a very hard concession for Zelensky to make.The bottom line: Getting to the table is the easy part, and even that will be difficult.Go deeper: Next steps on security guarantees

Comments

World news

Gavin Newsom is expertly trolling Fox News stars by mimicking Trump online — right down to the nicknames

Independent

Bombshell texts reveal Jeanine Pirro is no fan of Sean Hannity, alleging he storms into the Oval Office ‘like he owns the place’

about 5 hours ago

Alabama teacher calls state’s new law banning phones in class ‘magic’

Independent

Comments

World news

Gavin Newsom is expertly trolling Fox News stars by mimicking Trump online — right down to the nicknames

What could US and European security guarantees look like for Ukraine?

Putin and Zelensky have only met once before – here’s what happened

An Italian funeral for a Palestinian woman evacuated from Gaza becomes a call to 'make noise'

Israel to call up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City move

Archaeologists discover 1,400 year old Christian cross on Abu Dhabi island

Trump who famously evaded the draft during Vietnam describes himself as a war hero: ‘‘I guess I am too’

Pete Hegseth is requiring so much security it’s taking officers off of criminal investigations

Downsize me: McDonald’s plans to cut combo meal prices after complaints

What is Vibrio vulnificus? Symptoms explained as beachgoers warned about flesh-eating bacteria

Hurricane Erin live updates: Storm to bring ‘powerful’ 20 foot waves and flooding risk along US East Coast

Jeanine Pirro says the quiet part out loud and admits to helping Trump and Republicans as a Fox News host

Elon Musk is already giving up on plans to start his own party - and instead looks to back Vance in 2028

Target appoints lifelong employee as new CEO in effort to halt sliding sales

Chaos at Milan Malpensa Airport after passenger ‘set fire to check-in desk’

Extremely rare bright orange shark with white eyes discovered in the Caribbean

Wildfires in Spain are setting an alarming new record, according to EU data

Hurricane Erin dramatically shifts trajectory after lashing the Caribbean with rain and high winds

In numbers: Is the UK ready to put boots on the ground in Ukraine?

DC food delivery drivers are being swept off the street in police crackdown: ‘Widespread fear amongst community members’

Trump is ready to ‘crush’ the Russian economy if Putin doesn’t meet with Zelensky, says Lindsey Graham

South Park takes aim at Trump’s Washington DC crime crackdown with the return of an old character

Stunning fireball lights up Japan night sky in dash cam video

‘Much-loved’ Finnish MP, 30, found dead in Helsinki parliament building

Raphael Grave: Investigation launched into 'horrifying' death of French online streamer

Brain-eating amoeba with 97% fatality rate found in Australian drinking water

US Navy ship USS New Orleans catches fire while docked in Okinawa, Japan

How conservatives help their young thinkers — and why liberals don’t

Who are the Ryder Cup captains for 2025?

Fears of new Covid wave after cases in hospital patients soar by 31% in two weeks

Tom Daley: Celebrity Traitors was fun – I found out what people are really like

The councils considering legal action next over asylum hotels

Interest rates could stay at 4% until next year, say economists

Bargains are scarce for investors in this pricey stock market

Crash in South China Sea underscores "incredibly tense" situation

Israel calls up thousands of reservists as it prepares new Gaza offensive

Pope calls for peace in Middle East and Ukraine as he returns to Vatican

Taiwanese court sentences ex-legislator's son for illegal fuel transfers to North Korea

U.S.-led coalition captures a senior Islamic State member in Syria

Pakistan issues flood alert for southern districts as rescuers search for missing in the northwest

NATO defense chiefs hold a virtual meeting on security guarantees for Ukraine

Yarely Ashley Hermosillo dead: Influencer murdered in front of young son

Callum Kerr: Everything we know about 'murder' of Hollyoaks star's mum as he speaks out

Footballer, 30, tragically dies in front of mum day before starting new club

Milan Malpensa Airport passenger 'ran for her life' as rampaging man starts fire

Royal Family shares rare health update on Princess locked in three-year coma

Latest iPad Air M3 gets record low price in deal that beats Apple

Bombshell texts reveal Jeanine Pirro is no fan of Sean Hannity, alleging he storms into the Oval Office ‘like he owns the place’

Alabama teacher calls state’s new law banning phones in class ‘magic’

Competitors walk slackline 400m above Chinese gorge in bid for championship glory

Boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. detained in Mexico after deportation for alleged cartel ties

Watch live: Sweden’s historic 600-tonne Kiruna Church moves to new home

Warning issued over fake Labubu dolls brand due choking hazard

Family’s heartfelt note pleading for return of dad and three children missing for four years

Is this where Putin and Zelensky talks could be held?

Can India and the U.S. Repair Their Relationship?

This deadly bacteria was once an “only in New York” problem. Not anymore.

The scandalous literary classic we’ve never stopped arguing about

Grimeborn’s Sense and Sensibility is edgy yet unmemorable

Trump is warning Europe that he is still Putin’s man