Washington, DC [US], May 17 (ANI): President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would hold separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to halt the ongoing conflict, which he described as a “bloodbath.”
Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social:
“I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 am. The subjects of the call will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade…”
He added that he would then speak to President Zelenskyy, followed by discussions with Zelenskyy and various NATO members. Trump expressed hope that the conversations would lead to a ceasefire and ultimately end the violent war.
Speaking after his West Asia tour, Trump reiterated his belief that current diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict would fail without his direct involvement. He stressed that a face-to-face meeting between him and Putin is crucial to breaking the impasse.
In his comments, Trump also addressed the significance of the upcoming in-person talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey. While acknowledging the importance of the meeting, he expressed skepticism about any substantial progress being made without his presence.
Trump stated:
“Nothing is going to happen on Ukraine until he and Putin meet. I think it’s time for us to just do it.”
He further added that his personal presence is vital to ensuring that both leaders engage in dialogue, indicating that without him, the meeting would likely be unproductive.
When asked about the timing of his potential meeting with Putin, Trump mentioned that he would set it up “as soon as possible.” He also referenced his desire to visit his newborn grandson, noting that family was a priority at the moment.
Trump also noted that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s absence from Thursday’s talks was influenced by Putin’s absence, suggesting that both leaders were hesitant to attend without his mediation. (ANI)
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