Trump seeks quick deal and will put pressure on Ukraine - Bloomberg

Today, the White House is scheduled to host a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Bloomberg, the White House head is aiming to reach a peace deal as soon as possible and will prepare to put pressure on Kyiv.

According to the publication, Trump has also invited several European leaders to discuss the parameters of a possible deal. It echoes the topics that the American President raised in a conversation with Kremlin leader vladimir putin during a meeting in Alaska. If Moscow focuses on territorial concessions, Kyiv intends to seek security guarantees.

Sources note that over the weekend, Trump, in telephone conversations with allies, stated the US's readiness to join in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that he seeks quick agreements and will insist that Kyiv agree to them. According to the plan, a meeting between Zelenskyy and putin is scheduled to take place within a week. European leaders call this schedule "too aggressive," as many unresolved issues remain.

Bloomberg writes that Trump even shared with allies some details of his conversation with putin, but without specifics.

After the summit in Alaska, the American leader moved away from the idea of a ceasefire and is promoting a full-fledged peace agreement. His special representative Steve Witkoff explained the change in position by "significant progress" in contacts between the United States and russia.

According to media reports, the Kremlin has put forward a number of demands. Among them is the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions in exchange for a cessation of hostilities in the Zaporizhia and Kherson Regions. Russia is also allegedly ready to discuss the withdrawal of troops from part of the Sumy and Kharkiv Regions. Putin's additional conditions concern the status of the russian language and other political issues.

Witkoff confirmed that today's talks in Washington will concern territorial concessions. Zelenskyy himself said the day before that any territorial issues could only be considered at the level of leaders during a trilateral meeting, stressing: "russia has not yet demonstrated its readiness for it." He also noted that the starting point for negotiations should be the current front line.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in turn, emphasized that putin's proposals are in fact a "capitulation of Ukraine." He predicted that his conversation with Trump would be "tough."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already arrived in Washington, where he is due to meet with US President Donald Trump and European Union leaders.

According to media reports, seven European leaders will take part in a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on August 18.