Ambitious plans for a meeting between Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's President Vladimir Putin are facing obstacles, even though former US President Donald Trump recently expressed optimism about such a summit occurring soon. Potential venues that have been discussed include Geneva, Vienna, Budapest, and Istanbul, though Zelensky and Putin have not met since 2019, prior to Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine.
Trump indicated he had started preparations for the summit after a phone call with Putin, suggesting that the Russian leader may be inclined to participate. However, the Kremlin's account of the conversation was more cautious, with aides hinting at a focus on increasing representative involvement rather than a direct agreement for a meeting.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned that a summit could happen within two weeks, but he expressed doubts about Putin's willingness to attend. He also urged for persuasion towards Putin's participation. Trump remarked on the severe implications for Russia should Putin choose not to engage in the peace process, but did not elaborate further.
As diplomatic discussions continue, the chances of a meeting seem to be waning. Although Moscow claims to be open to negotiations, the conditions it is setting may not align with Ukraine's expectations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that any meeting with Zelensky would be contingent on the resolution of "issues" beforehand, which Kyiv might find unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff suggested that Russia had agreed to security guarantees for Ukraine. However, these guarantees appear to be a rehash of earlier proposals that Ukraine rejected, including granting Russia a veto power over defensive military actions in Ukraine, which would leave the nation vulnerable.
Zelensky declared that any potential meeting must follow the establishment of security agreements with Ukraine's allies, which would likely exclude Russian influence, rendering the proposals unsatisfactory from Moscow's perspective.
The speculation over possible summit venues continues. Budapest has been proposed by U.S. diplomats as a potential site, although this suggestion has faced pushback, given Hungary's recent political leanings, particularly under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has shown reluctance to support Ukraine.
Orban's government has not been supportive of Ukraine's efforts, raising concerns about Budapest's neutrality as a location. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed these sentiments, recalling a previous summit in the city that led to unfavorable consequences for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed Switzerland as a likely option due to its neutrality, while Zelensky suggested Vienna, which serves as a site for many international organizations. Although Austria and Switzerland would provide immunity under international law for Putin, concerns over war crimes allegations remain.
Istanbul has also emerged as a candidate, given its history of hosting discussions between Ukraine and Russia, although prior talks have not yielded significant breakthroughs. Other locations like the Vatican and Saudi Arabia have been mentioned, as both have a track record of diplomatic involvement in the conflict.
While high-stakes negotiations are debated, the war continues unabated, with Ukraine reporting attacks on Russian territory and Moscow executing some of its largest bombardments on Ukraine in weeks. President Zelensky emphasized the need for greater pressure to elicit meaningful dialogue from Russia.
