Trump prepares for a tripartite meeting with Putin and Zelensky
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to meet with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia following negotiations with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. He announced this at a press conference.
According to Trump, the conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders was 'ten out of ten,' and if the first meeting goes well, the second could happen almost immediately. 'If the first meeting is successful, we will almost immediately hold the second – between President Putin, Zelensky, and myself,' he stated.
Trump warned against excessive optimism regarding the possibility of persuading the Russian leader to stop aggression against the peaceful population of Ukraine. 'I think the answer will be more likely 'no,' as I have already had great conversations with Putin, but then I come home and see how a rocket hit a house, and people are lying down, dying,' Trump explained.
Unpredictable negotiations
The U.S. President emphasized the conditionality of future negotiations. 'If I do not get the right answers at the first meeting, there will be no second,' he firmly stated. And in the event of Putin refusing to stop the war, he will face 'very serious consequences.'
According to CBS News, the U.S. is already working on determining a venue for a potential tripartite meeting of leaders. According to the publication's information, the meeting could take place as early as the end of next week.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, speaking to American servicemen at the British airbase Fairford, confirmed the administration's commitments. 'President Trump has made it clear that our administration's task is to bring peace to Europe,' he emphasized.
During the planned negotiations between Trump and Putin, the possibility of holding a tripartite meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will likely be discussed. It should be noted that Trump does not consider himself excessively optimistic about persuading Putin to end the war.