For a fleeting moment ahead of the first meeting in mid-May 2025, there existed the faintest prospect that Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine would join, sitting down in the same room for face-to-face talks.

US President Donald Trump is open to a possible meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, according to the BBC.

I spoke with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey; he asked if I was open to a four-party meeting—himself, the U.S. president, [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin, and me,” Zelenskyy said at a press briefing.