President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he won’t pursue a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless there is a clear potential for a resolution regarding the Ukraine conflict.
While speaking to reporters on Air Force One after departing from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, he said, “We need to know that we’re going to come to an agreement.” He added that he wouldn’t “waste any time” and expressed disappointment, noting their previously strong relationship.
Trump remarked that the Ukraine situation could have been settled “long before” a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas was achieved.
He brought up the past peace talks he facilitated between Azerbaijan and Armenia, highlighting that it was quite challenging.
In another comment, Trump mentioned that Putin had called him previously to express admiration for the peace efforts he made, emphasizing that he successfully navigated negotiations that others found difficult—such as those involving India and Pakistan. He suggested that the conflicts today seem more complicated, especially due to the intense animosity between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin.
Earlier this week, Trump had decided to cancel a proposed meeting with Putin in Budapest, deeming it a “waste of time,” despite initially announcing that it could happen in the coming weeks.
In addition, he imposed new sanctions on Russia this week. Trump and Putin’s last encounter took place in Alaska in August, where no consensus was reached.
Last week, Trump also met with President Zelensky, during which it seems he declined Ukraine’s appeal for Tomahawk long-range missiles.
Looking ahead, Trump expressed hope for a significant agreement in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, particularly focusing on agricultural concerns and the issue of fentanyl, which he noted is a major problem originating from China.
