Trump and Putin to meet Tuesday to discuss ending Ukraine war
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, as discussions over a possible cease-fire intensify.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump expressed optimism about the prospects of ending the conflict, stating, “We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can’t, but I think we have a very good chance.”
According to Trump, negotiations have progressed over the weekend, with discussions centred around “dividing up certain assets,” including land and power plants. He acknowledged that territorial matters have significantly shifted since the war began, adding, “It’s a lot different than it was before the war, as you know.”
The ongoing talks have been facilitated in part by U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Putin.
Speaking on CNN, Witkoff confirmed that discussions lasted three to four hours and that both sides had “narrowed the differences between them.” However, he did not disclose specific details of the talks.
The Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, has expressed support for the proposed U.S.-backed cease-fire. However, Zelensky has accused Putin of deliberately stalling negotiations while attempting to strengthen Russia’s military position.
Tensions escalated on Friday when Putin demanded that Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region surrender. However, following intense fighting, Ukrainian forces withdrew from most of the area by the weekend, leaving them in control of only a small portion of land within Russian territory.
As discussions continue, the world watches closely to see whether Trump’s proposed dialogue with Putin will bring about meaningful progress in the effort to end the war
