White House appoints team for enabling Putin-Zelensky meeting

2025-08-20 02:57:44

(MENAFN) The White House has named a group of top officials tasked with fast-tracking a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff will coordinate efforts to bring the two leaders together “as soon as possible.”

Leavitt added that President Donald Trump had spoken by phone with Putin, who agreed to move forward with the “next phase of the peace process,” beginning with direct talks between Putin and Zelensky. If needed, the discussions could later expand into a trilateral format including Trump.

The announcement follows Trump’s summit with Putin in Alaska last week and his subsequent talks in Washington with Zelensky and European leaders backing Ukraine. Moscow has confirmed its willingness to continue negotiations toward a long-term settlement.

Trump is now working to secure a Putin-Zelensky meeting, while also urging Kiev to show “more flexibility” in the process.

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