President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be arranged “very soon,” offering a new indication of U.S. efforts to bring the two leaders together over the war in Ukraine.
Trump made the comment after returning from campaign events in Texas. He told reporters that he had discussed the war with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during the flight aboard Air Force One.
“I think with Russia we’re making a lot of progress with Russia-Ukraine. There’ll be a meeting set up very soon.”
When asked who would participate, Trump identified Putin and Zelenskyy. He did not provide a date, location or format for the proposed meeting. A direct meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents would be the first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to the account of the announcement.
Earlier negotiations
Russia and Ukraine have already taken part in three rounds of U.S.-mediated negotiations this year. Those sessions took place in Abu Dhabi and Geneva during January and February, but the two presidents were not part of those meetings.
Trump described the discussions with Russia as making progress but offered no details about the issues under consideration or about any possible agreement. His announcement came as diplomatic activity over the conflict continued, including recent calls with Putin by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Trump also discussed the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. He said he believed Tehran wanted an agreement with Washington but was delaying negotiations, possibly until after the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections. Asked whether the United States might carry out additional strikes against Iran after the election, Trump said:
“Anything’s possible, but I can’t tell you.”
- Proposed meeting: Putin and Zelenskyy, with no date or location announced.
- Earlier talks: Three U.S.-mediated rounds took place in Abu Dhabi and Geneva in January and February.
- Additional issue: Trump linked his comments to ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and declined to rule out further strikes.
