Zelensky Calls for Trump-Putin Summit as War Intensifies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a high-stakes trilateral summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a bold bid to halt Moscow’s three-year-long invasion of Ukraine.

The proposal comes as diplomatic efforts continue to stall, with the Kremlin earlier rejecting a proposed bilateral meeting between Zelensky and Putin in Turkey. Russia has insisted that any such meeting would only occur after a preliminary agreement is reached.

“If Putin is not comfortable with a bilateral meeting, or if everyone wants it to be a trilateral meeting, I don’t mind. I am ready for any format,” Zelensky told journalists on Tuesday, with the comments published on Wednesday.

Zelensky also urged Washington to impose tougher sanctions on Russia’s banking and energy sectors, noting that Trump had pledged support for sanctions should Moscow continue its aggression. “We are waiting for sanctions from the United States of America,” Zelensky said. “We discussed two main aspects — energy and the banking system. I would very much like to see action on that.”

Tensions escalated further overnight as Ukraine launched one of its largest drone offensives, firing nearly 300 drones at Russian territory. The Russian defence ministry reported minimal damage, although three major airports in Moscow suspended operations for several hours.

The aerial barrage came just days after Trump labeled Putin “crazy” and warned that the Russian leader is “playing with fire,” following a deadly wave of Russian attacks that killed at least 13 civilians, including children. On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia… He’s playing with fire!”

Despite months of U.S.-led diplomatic pressure, both sides appear no closer to peace. Russia’s army continues its push in Ukraine’s northeast, with President Zelensky warning that Moscow has massed more than 50,000 troops near the Sumy border region. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have captured several settlements in what President Putin has called a bid to create a “buffer zone.”

Meanwhile, Kyiv accuses Russia of stalling progress following recent negotiations in Istanbul — the first direct peace talks in over three years. Zelensky stated that Ukraine is yet to receive Russia’s memorandum outlining its demands for a potential deal.

Zelensky is expected in Berlin on Wednesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has pledged strong support for Ukraine’s defense and sovereignty.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that a second round of negotiations is under discussion, with further details to be announced soon.