United States President Donald Trump reiterated on Monday that he wants to organize a meeting between Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky after his meeting with Russian leader, which will take place on Friday (15) in Alaska.
Last week, announcing European leaders the intention to meet with Putin (a meeting that was later confirmed next Friday), Trump said that after meeting with the Kremlin dictator, he then planned a meeting with Russian and Zelensky.
The confirmation of the meeting only between Trump and Putin in Alaska annoyed the Ukrainian President, who said any decision without the presence of Kiev representatives is already “born dead.”
Trump indicated on Monday that he believes that conversations with Putin will be “constructive” and said that “immediately, perhaps on the plane, perhaps when leaving the room” will connect “to European leaders and Zelensky.”
At a press conference today at the White House, the US president said he does not know whether or not to be present in the future conversation between the rulers of the two nations in war, but stressed: “Ultimately, I will gather both in the same room.”
“This is a war that should never have happened, but I will talk to Zelensky. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky, Putin and me. I’ll be there if they need me, but I want to schedule a meeting between the two leaders,” he said.
Trump has insisted that he will talk to his European allies and Zelensky, before and after the meeting with Putin, to inform them of the “kind of agreement” of peace that the Kremlin head seeks, while stressing that he will not intrude in the pact that the two parties could approve. “It is not up to me, it is up to them to decide what to sign,” he said.
At the press conference, Trump said he wants Russia to return part of the territory occupied in Ukraine.
“Let’s change the lines, the battle lines. Russia has occupied a large part of Ukraine. They occupied some very important territories. We will try to recover part of this territory to Ukraine,” the president said.
