Zelenskyy and Trump Envoys Trade Ideas as Second Round of Ukraine Peace Talks Looms

The first round of face-to-face talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and envoys of former U.S. President Donald Trump concluded on September 6 in Kyiv, generating what both sides describe as “several new ideas” for potential negotiations, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The Trump envoys have since left the capital, but a second round is already being planned — this time with European advisers sitting at the table.

No concrete proposals or preconditions were disclosed after the closed-door meeting. In a brief statement, Zelenskyy said the discussion had been “productive” and that the ideas raised would be studied further. The Ukrainian president did not elaborate on their content, underscoring the still-early stage of a diplomatic track that has yet to produce a public framework.

Trump, who has not held office since 2021 but remains a highly influential figure in U.S. Republican politics, is scheduled to speak by phone with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, September 7, Ukrainska Pravda reported. The sequence of the calls — which leader will be called first — has not been disclosed, but the dual conversations signal that Trump is attempting to position himself as a mediator between the two warring sides.

What the European involvement means

The decision to include European advisers in the next round is a significant shift. Until now, Trump’s peace initiative has been an exclusively U.S.-Ukraine channel, with European governments kept at arm’s length. By bringing in European partners, the talks may gain broader legitimacy — but also risk becoming more unwieldy.

For European capitals, the move offers a chance to shape any eventual ceasefire terms rather than having them imposed from Washington. Yet it also raises questions about whether the Kremlin will accept a format that includes NATO-aligned states. Russia has long insisted on “neutral” mediation, and the inclusion of European advisers could be a sticking point in Trump’s scheduled call with Putin.

No deadlines, no details

Neither the Ukrainian government nor the Trump team has set a timeline for the second round. The envoys’ departure from Kyiv on September 7, confirmed by Ukrainska Pravda, suggests that the next phase will be prepared remotely — possibly via video calls — before a new in-person meeting is convened.

What remains absent from the public record is any indication of the substance of the “new ideas.” In previous rounds of diplomacy, Ukraine has insisted on a full Russian withdrawal as a precondition for a ceasefire, while Moscow demands recognition of its annexed territories. Whether Trump’s envoys floated a compromise formula — such as a limited local truce along the front line — is unknown.

Strategic context

This diplomatic push comes at a moment of battlefield stalemate but growing political pressure on both sides. Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the south has made incremental gains, but Russia’s defensive lines have held. Western aid, while still flowing, faces increasing scrutiny from populist politicians in Europe and the United States. Trump, who has previously suggested he could end the war “in 24 hours” without offering a detailed plan, is now testing that claim through direct engagement.

For Ukraine, the risk is that Trump’s mediation could lead to a deal that freezes the front line, leaving Russia in control of nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. For Europe, the fear is that Washington might cut a deal without consulting Brussels. The inclusion of European advisers in the next round addresses that concern — but only if the Kremlin agrees to play along.

As the phone calls on September 7 approach, the ball is now in Trump’s court. His conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy will likely determine whether the second round of talks happens at all — and whether the “new ideas” from Kyiv have any chance of becoming a real peace plan.