Rob Schmitz

That was a suggestion made by the Trump administration.

Sunday's meeting between Zelensky, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner lasted five hours.

There are still major gaps between the latest American and Ukrainian plans to try and end the war, though, and there's no indication that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to any plan to end it.

Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

The meeting comes as the Kremlin reaffirms it will give its blessing for a ceasefire only after Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from parts of the Donetsk region that they still control.

It's a demand that's likely to be rejected by Ukraine.

Witkow and Kushner plan to meet with Zelensky as well as key European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

French President Emmanuel Macron, and U.K.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In related news, Germany's Merz declared the era of Apex Americana over in a speech over the weekend, warning of a permanent U.S.

withdrawal from Europe after the Trump administration published its national security strategy, a document that heavily criticized European leaders as being weak and ineffective.

Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

The meeting comes as the Kremlin reaffirms it will give its blessing for a ceasefire only after Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from parts of the Donetsk region that they still control.

It's a demand that's likely to be rejected by Ukraine.

Witkow and Kushner plan to meet with Zelensky as well as key European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In related news, Germany's Merz declared the era of Apex Americana over in a speech over the weekend, warning of a permanent U.S.

withdrawal from Europe after the Trump administration published its national security strategy, a document that heavily criticized European leaders as being weak and ineffective.

Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

Hey Isha, greetings from Berlin.