On 17 February 2025, the NATO Secretary General announced that US President Donald Trump's Special Representative for Ukraine held talks with NATO officials aimed at discussing a peaceful settlement and ending the ongoing conflict.

Earlier, on February 12, President Trump held telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, initiating the peace talks. During the conversation with Putin, which lasted about an hour and a half, the leaders discussed key issues, including the settlement of the situation in Ukraine and events in the Middle East. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the conversation took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere. Trump then contacted Zelensky, expressing hope for peace and stressing that both presidents are committed to ending the conflict.

At the Munich Security Conference on February 14, US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said that Europe might not be physically present at the conflict settlement talks, but its interests would be taken into account. He stressed that the US seeks a long-term and sustainable peaceful solution to the crisis and prefers to avoid the participation of many parties in the negotiations in order to speed up the process.

Kellogg also expressed hope for a quick end to the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that a peaceful settlement is possible as early as 2025. In his opinion, active hostilities should cease within the next six months. He noted that the development of a peace plan is in its final stages and will be presented in the coming days or weeks.

However, the exclusion of European countries from direct participation in the negotiations has raised concerns among EU leaders. They stress the importance of their participation in the settlement process, given the geopolitical implications of the conflict for Europe and its significant support for Ukraine. In response, Kellogg assured that the interests of European allies will be taken into account, despite their possible absence from the negotiating table.

At the same time, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton said that President Putin outplayed the US, NATO and Ukraine by refusing to negotiate with the previous administration and waiting for an opportunity to discuss a settlement with Trump. In his opinion, the Kremlin expects to get more benefits from a deal with the current US president.