Zelenskyy and Trump push for Vatican meeting with Putin, Moscow prefers Geneva - media

European diplomats have been told by their US counterparts to be ready for a trilateral meeting between US and Ukrainian Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin later this week, but are divided over the venue for the possible meeting, Sky News reported on Monday.

“During a Coalition of the Willing video call last weekend, Giorgia Meloni (Italian Prime Minister – IF-U) suggested Rome as the venue, while Emmanuel Macron suggested Geneva. Zelenskyy and Trump are understood to prefer Rome, particularly the Vatican, but Putin prefers Geneva,” the report said.

In addition, the Italian and Swiss foreign ministries have insisted they are ready to host the talks, while EU diplomats are also assessing other venues, including Budapest and Helsinki.

“Barring any last-minute changes, US and EU allies have agreed that the meeting will take place in Europe,” the publication wrote.

Trump reportedly said in a phone call with Zelenskyy that he wanted to hold a trilateral meeting with Putin as early as August 22. Putin has not publicly confirmed his participation in such a meeting.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for "a trilateral meeting between the president of Ukraine, the president of the United States, and the president of Russia as soon as possible."

Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Monday to discuss with Trump all the details of ending the war. He will be joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the presidents of Finland and France, Alexander Stubb and Emmanuel Macron.