U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to hold a meeting with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, which is scheduled for this week. The meeting will be preceded by Trump’s consultations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders of key European countries.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Preparation for Negotiations with Putin
Donald Trump emphasized that before meeting with Putin, he plans to discuss the situation with the leadership of Ukraine and European states to coordinate positions. He made this statement during a briefing focused on domestic issues in the U.S., particularly the deployment of National Guard forces to Washington to combat crime.
“I am just ashamed to be here (in Washington – ed.). On Friday, I will go to Russia to meet with Putin. I don’t want people talking about how dangerous, dirty, and disgusting this once beautiful capital has become.”
The White House immediately noted that Trump’s words about the trip to Russia were a slip of the tongue and reminded that the meeting between U.S. and Russian leaders is scheduled for August 15 in Alaska.
Possibility of Territory Exchange and Ukraine’s Position
Donald Trump confirmed that during the negotiations, he plans to raise the issue of a potential “exchange of territories” and expressed his intention to seek the return of part of Ukraine’s lands. According to him, the meeting in Alaska is intended to facilitate a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
Meanwhile, according to foreign press reports, Vladimir Putin, in a conversation with Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff, expressed readiness for a complete ceasefire on the condition that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the entire Donetsk region. At the same time, sources indicate that Putin does not intend to abandon claims to the occupied territories of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will not agree to the transfer of its territories to Russia.