President Trump is weighing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelanski in the coming weeks as he pressurizes to end the fight in Ukraine.
Trump on Wednesday raised a meeting with the two leaders during a call with European colleagues, a source confirmed on the hill. It was not immediately clear when or where the meeting could be held, or if it had agreed by all the parties.
White House press secretary Karolin Lewitt said Russia had expressed interest in a meeting with Trump.
“As President Trump said on the first truth social today, there was great progress during the meeting of Special Envoy Vitkoff with President Putin,” Levit said in a statement. “The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and President is open to a meeting with both President Putin and President Zelanski. President Trump wants the brutal war to end.”
the new York Times First reported The next week, Trump was aimed at meeting Putin and Zelancesi the next week. The outlet reported that Trump told the European leaders that the meeting would only include Trump, Putin and Zelanski, although it was not clear whether Putin or Zelancesi agreed to attend.
The President’s special envoy Steve Witcoff met Putin in Russia on Wednesday for the peace mission. Trump posted on the truth social that it was a “highly productive” meeting.
“Later, I updated some of our European colleagues,” Posted by Trump. “Everyone agrees that this war should come closer, and we will work towards that in the coming days and weeks.”
Zelansky posted on X before Wednesday that he spoke with Trump after Vitkofy meetings in Russia.
“Our joint position with our colleagues is absolutely clear – the war should end,” Zelanceci posted. “And this must be done honestly. European leaders were on calls, and I am grateful to each of them for their support. We discussed what was written in Moscow.”
Trump has met Zelansky several times during his second term, including a notorious White House conversation.Developed in anarchyTrump and Vice President Vance suggested that Ukrainian leaders were not appropriately grateful to US support.
Trump has spoken with Putin on the phone several times and has given a hintOpening in meetingIn a person with Russian leader.
Trump campaigned on the pledge to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of receiving the office, a time limit he later claimed that “satirical” was “satirical”. But he has expressed growing disappointment with Putin in recent weeks as Russia has continued Ukrainian cities with a drone strike.
Trump administration has been determined Additional restrictions Later this week in Russia, and the White House on Wednesday announced that it would double the continuous purchase of Russian oil on India, stating that it was fueling Moscow’s war machine.
A German government spokesperson told The Hill that during the call, in which Chancellor Frederick Merz, Trump “updated the status of talks with Russia.”
Philip Timotiza contributed reporting
