Donald Trump confirms Putin and Zelensky are willing to meet at huge peace summit

Donald Trump's White House has confirmed Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky and pursue the next stage of peace talks aimed at stopping the war in Ukraine. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the world was about to be granted "an opportunity for peace" thanks to the US president's recent efforts.

"Following the encouraging conversations yesterday, [President Trump] spoke with President Putin by phone, and he agreed to begin the next phase of the peace process - a meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky [...] followed, if necessary, by a trilateral meeting," Ms Leavitt said. She began her regular news briefing by describing Mr Trump as the "peace president" and argued he has "relentlessly pursued peace" since returning to power. She then repeated his statement from earlier today that there would be no US boots on the ground in Ukraine.

She was then asked about the president's shift in position. Ahead of meeting with Vladimir Putin, the US president said a trilateral meeting would be the next step to agreeing on a peace deal. However, afterwards, he said it would be a meeting between Russia and Ukraine-followed by a trilateral meeting with Mr Putin, Mr Zelensky, and himself. There have been suggestions that Trump was swayed by Putin.

Ms Leavitt said: "The president has spoken to both leaders about this, and both leaders have expressed a willingness to sit down with each other. And so our national security team will help both countries do that."

She continued that Mr Trump had wanted "from the very beginning" for the two countries to engage in direct diplomacy, "which is why he's agreeable to the idea of having President Zelensky and President Putin get together, and I understand accommodations for that meeting are under way."

In a follow-up, she was asked what indications Mr Putin has given that he wants a meeting. She responded that it came from a direct conversation with Mr Putin yesterday.