Trump coordinates Putin-Zelenskyy talks after White House meetings on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (Getty Images)
The president added that after the meeting between the two warring presidents, there would be a trilateral meeting with the United States as well.
"After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself," the president continued. "Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years."
Yury Ushakov, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Trump and Putin were on the phone for about 40 minutes and held a "candid and very constructive" dialogue, according to CNN.
Putin "expressed support for direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine," Ushakov reportedly added.
President Donald Trump sits next to French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders at the White House on Aug. 18, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
"I think [Putin] wants to make a deal," Trump whispered to Macron in the East Room as they were preparing for Monday's talks. "I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds."
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-arranges-putin-zelenskyy-meeting-after-calling-russian-president-amid-ukraine-talks-from-white-house