Trump floats ‘quick’ Putin-Zelensky meeting

A new round of talks could follow on the heels of the Alaska summit, according to the US president

US President Donald Trump has suggested holding a “quick” second round of talks following the Alaska summit that would bring together Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Trump said he would join the proposed meeting if he is wanted.

Ahead of his meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday, Trump told journalists while speaking at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Wednesday that during the upcoming talks he’s “going to find out where we are and what we’re doing.” 

“If the meeting goes okay, we’ll have a quick second one – I would like to do it almost immediately,” he added.

Trump suggested that the follow-up would bring together Putin, Zelensky, and himself, “if they’d like to have me there.” 

Moscow has repeatedly stated it is open to a peaceful resolution of the hostilities but has stressed that any deal would have to address the roots of the conflict and respect the realities on the ground. This includes the status of the former Ukrainian territories that joined Russia after public referendums.

Zelensky, who earlier called the Alaska summit a “personal victory” for Putin, arrived in Berlin on Wednesday to join German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a video call between European leaders and Trump.

Moscow has long accused Zelensky of being in denial and unnecessarily prolonging a conflict he cannot win.

READ MORE: Russia reveals expectations for Putin-Trump summit

Putin has said he has “nothing in principle” against meeting with Zelensky but maintains that “certain conditions must be created” for it to take place. He has also questioned Zelensky’s legal capacity to sign binding agreements, as the Ukrainian leader’s presidential term expired last year and he has refused to hold a new election, citing martial law – prompting Moscow to declare him “illegitimate.” 

Russian officials have said the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting is a chance to mend strained relations between Russia and the US and tackle long-running disagreements between the two countries.