Trump Says He’s Working to Arrange Meeting between Putin & Zelenskyy
In a significant development that could potentially pave the way for peace in the war-torn region, US President Donald Trump has announced that he has begun arrangements for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting, if successful, could lead to a historic breakthrough in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been ongoing for years.
Trump made the announcement during a joint press conference with Zelenskyy at the White House on Wednesday. The meeting comes just days after Zelenskyy’s visit to the US, where he met with Trump to discuss the ongoing conflict and ways to resolve it.
“We’ve started the arrangements for a meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump said. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia and Ukraine.”
The announcement has sent shockwaves across the international community, with many analysts hailing it as a major breakthrough in the conflict. The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2014, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people and displacement of millions.
Zelenskyy, who has been a vocal advocate for peace talks with Russia, welcomed the news, saying that he was “optimistic” about the prospects of a meeting between the two leaders. “We are ready to talk, we are ready to work,” he said.
Trump also reiterated the US commitment to ensuring Ukraine’s security if a deal to end the war were reached. “We will help ensure Ukraine’s security,” he said. “We will help them in every way possible.”
The meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, if it takes place, would be the first high-level meeting between the two leaders since the conflict began. The two countries have been at loggerheads over the conflict in eastern Ukraine, with Russia supporting separatist rebels and Ukraine accusing Russia of sending troops across the border.
The conflict has been a major source of tension between the US and Russia, with the Trump administration imposing sanctions on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. However, in recent months, there have been signs of a thaw in relations between the two countries, with Trump and Putin holding a meeting at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan in June.
The announcement of the meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy comes as a surprise to many, given the ongoing tensions between the two countries. However, some analysts believe that the meeting could be a sign of a new willingness by both sides to engage in meaningful dialogue.
“This is a significant development,” said Dr. Ivan Katchanovski, a Ukraine expert at the University of Ottawa. “It shows that both sides are willing to engage in talks and find a way to resolve the conflict peacefully.”
The meeting, if it takes place, would be a major breakthrough in the conflict and could potentially pave the way for a lasting peace agreement. However, many challenges remain ahead, including the need for both sides to make significant concessions and the ongoing presence of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
Despite the challenges, the announcement of the meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy has been welcomed by many as a positive step towards peace and stability in the region.
