US President Donald Trump recently expressed optimism about a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting it could happen “very soon.” Trump stated that he believes Putin genuinely desires to halt the fighting in Ukraine, though no official time has been set for the meeting.
Trump’s comments came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed expectations for high-level talks in Riyadh aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Rubio will lead an American delegation to Saudi Arabia in the coming days for discussions with Russian officials as the war approaches its third anniversary.
Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, revealed that his team has been in frequent communication with Russian officials, including his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Putin for three hours. Trump expressed confidence that Putin wants to end the conflict, despite the ongoing struggles in Ukraine.
When asked about Putin’s ambitions for Ukraine, Trump shared that he had questioned Putin directly on the matter. “If he’s going to go on… that would have caused me a big problem,” Trump said, indicating that he believes Putin is interested in bringing the war to a close quickly. He also acknowledged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shares the same goal.
Meanwhile, Zelensky voiced concerns that Russia might target NATO should the US reduce its support for the alliance. Trump dismissed these remarks, claiming he wasn’t worried about Zelensky’s statements. The Republican has previously insisted that he could resolve the Ukraine conflict in a single day if he returns to the White House.
Rubio, however, cautioned that the war would not end easily, emphasizing the complexity of the situation. He noted that peace negotiations are not achieved in a single meeting.
The US delegation’s trip to Riyadh is still in the works, with no confirmation yet on whether Ukrainian representatives will participate. Rubio is seeking to create an opportunity for broader talks that could involve Ukraine and focus on ending the war. The process, however, remains in its early stages, with no firm agreements yet in place.
Trump and Putin held a phone call earlier in the week, during which they agreed to start ceasefire negotiations. However, the call took many by surprise, including NATO allies and Zelensky, who insisted that any decisions regarding Ukraine should involve Ukraine itself. Rubio echoed this sentiment, stating that one phone call does not equate to peace.
