Donald Trump, the president of the US, stated on Sunday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin was “very quickly” and that he thinks Putin wants to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
” No day set, but it could be quite soon”, Trump told reporters. His speech came shortly after Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, downplayed the outcome of high-level discussions in Riyadh intended to end the conflict.
Rubio is leading a US committee to Saudi Arabia, where debate will take place with Russian authorities. These discussions occur as the Ukraine conflict approaches the fourth anniversary of its onset.
Trump claimed that Steve Witkoff, his Middle East minister, and Putin have had frank exchanges over the course of three days.
” I think he wants to stop fighting”, Trump said about Putin.
When asked if he thinks Putin wants to take over all of Ukraine, Trump replied,” That was my question to him. If he’s going to get on… that would have caused me a great problem”.
He wants to end it, and they want to close it quickly, I believe. Both of them”, he added. Zellenskyy wants to end it as well.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, stated on Sunday that if Trump reduces US support for the ally, Russia may become “waging war” against a weak Nato.
Trump dismissed Zelenskyy’s comment, saying he was” hardly even a little bit” concerned.
Trump has recently stated that if he were to be re-elected, the Ukraine conflict would finish in a single day, but Rubio claimed that finding a resolution to the conflict “would not be simple.”
” A approach towards peace is never a one-meeting thing”, Rubio told CBS at the Munich Security Conference.
Status of discussions
Rubio may direct the US delegation to Riyadh, but it’s not clear whether Ukraine will participate. Additionally, he claimed that he was unsure of who Russia may take.
” Nothing’s been finalized but”, Rubio said. The intention is to start a conversation that “would involve Ukraine and require the end of the war.”
Additionally, Witkoff and Michael Waltz, the US’s top regional security adviser, are expected to speak at the discussions.
Trump and Putin agreed to begin agreement conversations right away after speaking on a lengthy phone call on Wednesday. The call for Nato allies and Ukraine came at a time that was unexpected, with Zelenskyy urging the latter to declare that Ukraine should not be subject to” no decisions without Ukraine.”
After speaking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Rubio declared,” There is no process at this time.” ” One telephone call does not create peacefulness”.
Zelenskyyy said in an interview with NBC on Sunday that Putin may be relied upon as a negotiating partner.
” I don’t believe in geopolitics, everyone should believe anyone”, Rubio said. ” Putin’s status will be determined over the coming months and time” or not.
