Washington- U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to hold a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 22, raising hopes of a potential breakthrough in the grinding Ukraine conflict. The proposal, welcomed by Zelensky and supported by key European leaders including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has injected new momentum into international diplomacy. Yet, questions over Zelensky’s legitimacy and Putin’s hardline stance threaten to derail the initiative before it begins.

During a meeting at the White House with Zelensky, Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Mark Rutte, Trump pledged “very strong security and protection” for Ukraine. The Western leaders reaffirmed their unified stance that peace must be built on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Zelensky himself called the trilateral meeting “a good idea,” expressing hope that Trump could serve as a mediator capable of pushing Putin toward compromise.

However, Putin has repeatedly dismissed Zelensky’s authority, arguing that his presidential term expired earlier this year and that he no longer represents Ukraine legally. Moscow has instead signaled willingness to negotiate only with alternative Ukrainian figures or through direct talks with Washington and European powers. This position casts serious doubt on whether the proposed trilateral meeting can even take place, let alone yield substantive results.

Diplomatic analysts say Trump’s eagerness to host a trilateral summit reflects both his desire to showcase leadership on the global stage and his belief that personal dealmaking could succeed where traditional diplomacy has stalled. The Alaska summit last week between Trump and Putin was described as “warm and constructive,” but it ended without agreements on ceasefire or territorial issues. Trump has since hinted that peace might not require a formal ceasefire, a remark that has unsettled European allies and underscored the divisions in Western strategy.

For Zelensky, participation in a U.S.-brokered trilateral meeting is both an opportunity and a risk. While it could elevate his standing and reaffirm his recognition among allies, it also exposes him to further attacks from Moscow, which continues to label him illegitimate. European leaders meanwhile fear that if Putin refuses to attend, the event could weaken rather than strengthen the Ukrainian position.

Looking ahead, the stakes remain high. If Trump succeeds in bringing Putin and Zelensky to the same table on August 22, it would mark the first direct three-way negotiation since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. A failure, however, could deepen the diplomatic stalemate, leaving Ukraine more vulnerable and Europe divided on how to proceed. Much will depend on whether Trump can leverage his rapport with Putin from Alaska to soften Moscow’s resistance and convince him that engagement, even with Zelensky, is preferable to continued isolation.

As of now, the world watches with cautious anticipation. The coming days will determine whether the proposed trilateral meeting becomes a historic step toward peace or another missed chance in a war that has already redrawn the global order.