In a development that could signal a turning point in the ongoing war in Ukraine, former U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a high-level meeting shortly after holding a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As reported in the article titled “We have the makings of a deal: Trump hosts Zelenskyy after dialling Putin – Is Ukraine war ending?” published by The Economic Times, Trump suggested that a potential agreement to end the 26-month-old conflict may be within reach.
The meeting, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, marks the most significant diplomatic engagement involving Trump since he left office in 2021. According to the report, the former president described the conversations with both leaders as “constructive,” adding that “we have the makings of a deal.” While no formal statements have been issued by either Ukraine or Russia confirming any new peace initiative, Trump characterised the latest discussions as a step forward toward ending the war.
The meeting came as global fatigue over the drawn-out conflict has grown, particularly among Western allies who have provided sustained military and financial support to Kyiv. Ukraine’s spring counteroffensive yielded limited territorial gains, and both sides have largely settled into a grinding war of attrition. With the United States set to enter a contentious presidential election cycle, Trump’s direct engagement with both Zelenskyy and Putin could signal his intent to shape the geopolitical narrative, should he return to office.
Trump has previously claimed that he could end the war “within 24 hours” if reelected, a statement that has drawn both support and skepticism. Critics argue that any deal involving concessions to Russia would embolden further aggression, while supporters believe his unconventional approach may bring about breakthroughs where traditional diplomacy has lagged.
Zelenskyy’s willingness to meet with Trump—whose administration provided military aid to Ukraine but also became embroiled in controversies involving the country—also underscores Kyiv’s pragmatic approach to maintaining bipartisan support in the U.S. Unlike President Joe Biden, who has prioritized multilateral efforts and NATO alignment, Trump has repeatedly expressed skepticism toward traditional alliances, raising concerns among European capitals.
The Kremlin has not formally confirmed the contents of the reported call between Putin and Trump, but Russian state media have noted increased public references by Trump to peace initiatives. Moscow has long accused the West of prolonging the conflict by supplying arms to Ukraine and maintains that any peace talks must acknowledge Russian territorial claims, including over the annexed regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Despite speculation, analysts caution that any pathway to ending the war remains fraught with challenges. Neither side has publicly adjusted their core positions: Ukraine demands a full withdrawal of Russian forces and restoration of its borders, while Russia insists on retaining control over territory it now considers part of its sovereign domain.
The recent flurry of diplomatic signals, however, has injected a new element of uncertainty—and perhaps cautious optimism—into global efforts to broker peace. For now, the world waits to see whether Trump’s overtures represent genuine momentum toward resolution or another chapter in a deeply complex geopolitical struggle.
