United States President Donald Trump has indicated that a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin could occur "very soon," coinciding with upcoming discussions between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump noted that while no specific time has been set for the meeting, he remains optimistic that it could take place within the month.
Trump’s remarks followed a flight on Air Force One, where he expressed his belief that Putin is interested in finding a resolution to the war. “They have a big powerful machine, you understand that. They defeated Hitler and they defeated Napoleon. They’ve been fighting a long time,” Trump said, emphasizing the historical strength of Russia. He also acknowledged the potential risks if Putin were to seek total control over Ukraine, stating that such an outcome would pose a significant challenge for the U.S.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had tempered expectations regarding a swift resolution to the conflict, despite suggesting that Putin had conveyed a desire for peace during a phone call with Trump last week. Rubio cautioned that while the call was a positive sign, it alone would not lead to an immediate end to the war, which he described as a highly intricate situation.
The discussions in Saudi Arabia, however, have raised concerns in Ukraine and Europe about the possibility of the U.S. negotiating a peace plan that might compromise Ukrainian territory without adequate input from Kyiv or its European allies. Neither Ukrainian nor European officials are part of the talks in Riyadh. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has made it clear that he would "never accept" any agreements made without Ukraine’s involvement, emphasizing the personal toll the war has taken on his country.
European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas drew historical parallels between the current situation and the appeasement strategies of the pre-World War II era. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, she warned that negotiators should not concede territory before negotiations begin, referencing the Munich Agreement that allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia in exchange for a promise of peace.
As the situation develops, European leaders are set to convene in Paris for an emergency summit to discuss the ongoing conflict and the future security of Ukraine. Ahead of this meeting, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his readiness to send British troops to Ukraine to help maintain peace should a deal be reached. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that any resolution does not merely serve as a temporary halt to hostilities, but genuinely secures the region against future aggression.
The coming days and weeks are critical, as the international community watches closely to see whether meaningful negotiations can emerge from the discussions in Saudi Arabia.