Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could meet within the next two weeks thanks to President Trump’s efforts to bring an end to the war, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

President Donald Trump and others mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in March when he showed up at the White House in his customary military-style fatigues. Zelensky apparently got the message.

Ukraine has long pursued a negotiated end to Russia's war well in its 12th year. But talks have repeatedly collapsed under the Kremlin's ultimatums and maximalist demands. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been actively seeking a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin without preconditions,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave President Trump an engraved golf putter Monday in the Oval Office from a Ukrainian soldier who found solace in the game after losing his leg fighting

In February, Volodymyr Zelensky met with Donald Trump and JD Vance in a disastrous summit in which he was chastised for failing to properly thank the US president and not wearing a suit

The Kremlin is keeping its options open, but analysts said the Russian leader would probably only meet with his Ukrainian counterpart to accept a capitulation.

The Ukrainian president’s black suit-style jacket drew praise in a meeting with President Trump after his attire sparked a testy exchange in February.

A summit in Paris six years ago was the first and only time the two presidents ever met, flanked by French president Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s then-chancellor Angela Merkel. At the time, Putin and Zelensky were looking to hash out a ceasefire deal for war in Donbas in Ukraine’s east, where Russia-backed forces were fighting Ukrainian troops.