Trump’s comments contradicted an earlier statement from the White House, setting a Zelenskyy meeting as a precondition
President Donald Trump said he would hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin regardless of whether the Russian leader agrees to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump’s comments contradicted an earlier statement from a White House press official, who said a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy was a precondition to an audience with Trump.
“He doesn’t, no,” Trump said, when asked whether Putin would have to first meet Zelenskyy . “They would like to meet me, and I’ll do whatever I can to stop the killing.”
Trump earlier told European leaders he intends to meet with Putin in person, followed by a trilateral with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Trump told reporters late Wednesday that while there was a “really good prospect” of a meeting taking place, he wouldn’t classify it as a “breakthrough.”
“The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to this meeting. President Trump would like to meet with both President Putin and President Zelensky because he wants this brutal war to end,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The White House is working through the details of these potential meetings and details will be provided at the appropriate time.“
Trump’s continued engagement suggests he still sees a window to end the conflict through diplomacy, though including Zelenskyy at all would likely dampen Putin’s interest. The Russian president has so far resisted meeting with Zelenskyy, as he sees that as legitimizing him as the leader of Ukraine.
It remains unclear what any of the potential meetings mean for Trump’s Friday deadline for imposing additional sanctions against countries that purchase Russian energy. The U.S. president has threatened to take that action to punish Moscow if Putin doesn’t take steps toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump, asked whether the deadline for Putin to agree to a ceasefire was still Friday, responded, “it’s gonna be up to him, we’re gonna see what he has to say.”
Trump has grown increasingly angered at Russia’s role in prolonging the conflict and stymieing peace talks, as Moscow continues airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine.
Trump’s special envoy for peace missions Steve Witkoff has held at least five meetings with Putin since February but all of the contact has failed to deliver any breakthroughs. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin, who has dramatically escalated Russia’s attacks on Ukraine since the diplomacy began.
At various points along the way, American officials have expressed they were close to some sort of agreement that would essentially freeze the conflict on its current lines and Witkoff’s team hopes Russia will eventually be open to such concessions again, a person familiar with the matter said.
Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov said before the White House’s condition was known that he expects a Trump-Putin summit as early as next week. Ushakov played down the likelihood that Zelenskyy would join the meeting.
Putin blew off a possible meeting with Zelenskyy in Istanbul in May after Trump had set one of his many deadlines for Russia to make progress toward peace. Russian officials said at the time that Putin would only see Zelenskyy after a draft settlement was reached, while the Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the two leaders speaking with each other.
