A Wanted Man at the Negotiating Table? Trump Pushes for Putin-Zelenskyy Talks

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A dramatic scene could be unfolding soon: Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted for war crimes, sitting across the table from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leader of the country he invaded.

That is the bold plan U.S. President Donald Trump is working to arrange, convinced he can broker direct talks between the two men to break the deadlock in the war.

But from the start, the proposal is tangled in complications.

Many European leaders argue that no talks should take place until Russia agrees to a ceasefire. Analysts doubt Putin will even agree to meet Zelenskyy. And even if he does, there’s the thorny issue of where to hold the talks — since Putin faces an international arrest warrant that limits where he can travel.

Trump’s push
Trump said he raised the idea directly with Putin during his White House meeting this week with Zelenskyy and several European leaders.

“I think it will be fairly soon,” Trump told Fox News, adding that it was now up to Putin and Zelenskyy to decide, while hinting that the U.S. is far removed: “We’re 7,000 miles away.”

European leaders like Finland’s President Alexander Stubb said he hoped the talks could happen “within the next two weeks.”

Moscow, however, was less enthusiastic. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia does not rule out any format but warned that such a summit would need to be carefully prepared “step by step” before leaders could meet.

The big question: Where?
Zelenskyy has said he is willing to meet Putin, but the question of location is proving tricky.

In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin for allegedly deporting Ukrainian children — a move that makes travel risky, since 125 countries that recognize the court would be obligated to detain him if he entered their territory.

Russia denies committing war crimes and has dismissed the court’s ruling as meaningless.

Still, the White House is exploring possible neutral venues. Cities like Budapest and Geneva have been floated, while Switzerland has also offered to host.

For now, the world waits to see if Trump’s push for a face-to-face between the two wartime leaders can become reality — or if it will remain just another diplomatic gamble.