Washington, Aug. 18, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump interrupted a high-level meeting with European leaders in Washington to place a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, German outlet Bild reported.
According to the paper, the talks at the White House — which also included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — paused for the call and were expected to resume afterward.
Ukrainian presidential spokesperson Serhiy Nykyforov later said the formal part of the meeting had concluded, but leaders remained at the White House to continue discussions in a different format.
Trump told Zelensky during the session that Putin was “waiting for his call” immediately after the talks. “I just indirectly spoke with President Putin, and we are going to have a phone conversation right after today’s meetings,” Trump said.
The U.S. and Russian presidents last met in person three days ago, on August 15, during Trump’s stop in Alaska.
Zelensky was joined in Washington by seven European leaders: U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
