White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This potential meeting could take place within the next two weeks, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Merz stated that the agreement for the meeting was reached during a phone call between Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The exact location for the meeting has yet to be determined. Merz, who was part of a European delegation that met with Trump and Zelenskyy in Washington, emphasized the importance of this dialogue.

"We don’t know whether the Russian president will have the courage to attend such a summit. Therefore, persuasion is needed," Merz said. He noted that Trump had proposed the meeting to facilitate the beginning of peace negotiations, which have been stalled since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three and a half years ago.

Despite the optimism surrounding the potential meeting, concerns remain about Russia's commitment to peace. The announcement comes on the heels of Russia's largest drone attack on Ukraine this month, raising doubts about Moscow's readiness to engage in meaningful negotiations.

Merz highlighted that Trump was impressed by the unified front presented by European leaders during their discussions. He mentioned that the focus would now shift to details regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, stating, "It is absolutely clear that the whole of Europe should participate."

The situation remains fluid as both leaders prepare for what could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict.