Trump says there is a “good likelihood” he’ll meet with Putin and Zelenskyy as Russia sanction deadline looms
President Trump mentioned Wednesday there is a “good likelihood” he’ll meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly — as Mr. Trump presses Russia to finish its three-year invasion of Ukraine.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned Wednesday that Russia advised a gathering between the U.S. president and Putin, and Mr. Trump is “open” to the thought of a gathering with each Russia and Ukraine’s leaders.
Requested hours later whether or not Putin and Zelenskyy had agreed to a summit, Mr. Trump instructed reporters, “there’s an excellent prospect that they are going to.” He mentioned it is not clear the place the assembly would happen. Russia and Ukraine haven’t commented publicly on the potential of a gathering.
Mr. Trump’s feedback got here simply days earlier than his Friday deadline for Russia to both strike a ceasefire cope with Ukraine or face sanctions. Putin met with Mr. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow earlier Wednesday. The U.S. president known as the hourslong assembly “extremely productive” and wrote that “nice progress was made” in a Reality Social put up — a change of tone after Mr. Trump expressed frustration with Russia for a lot of final month.
Mr. Trump additionally held a name Wednesday with European leaders and NATO Secretary-Basic Mark Rutte.
A senior Trump administration official instructed CBS Information earlier Wednesday the assembly between Witkoff and Putin “went nicely.”
“The Russians are desirous to proceed participating with america,” the official mentioned.
Requested concerning the Witkoff-Putin assembly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned: “We’ll have another discussions all through the day, after which hopefully there will be some bulletins right here pretty quickly. Possibly optimistic, possibly not. We’ll see.”
Mr. Trump has pressed each Russia and Ukraine to succeed in a ceasefire, however he has oscillated between blaming Putin and Zelenskyy for an absence of progress. In current weeks, Mr. Trump has grown irritated with Putin over Russia’s continued assaults on Ukrainian cities.
Final week, Mr. Trump demanded that Putin strike a ceasefire cope with Ukraine inside 10 days, or Russia may face repercussions, together with sanctions on Russia and nations that do enterprise with it. That deadline runs out on Friday.
“The secondary sanctions are nonetheless anticipated to be applied on Friday,” the senior Trump administration official instructed CBS Information following the Putin-Witkoff assembly.
Mr. Trump has already begun focusing on some Russian buying and selling companions, slapping an extra 25% tariff on Indian items Wednesday as a result of the South Asian nation continues to purchase oil from Russia. That brings the whole tax on Indian imports to 50%.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev — the deputy chair of Russia’s safety council — responded to Mr. Trump’s sanction threats final week by warning: “Every new ultimatum is a risk and a step in direction of conflict.”
Mr. Trump known as Medvedev’s assertion “extremely provocative” and mentioned he was ordering two submarines to be “positioned within the applicable areas” in response.
At different factors, Mr. Trump has lashed out at Zelenskyy and accused him of prolonging Russia’s invasion, which started in February 2022. He publicly argued with the Ukrainian chief in an Oval Workplace assembly, and in at the very least two instances, his administration has quickly paused essential U.S. navy support to Ukraine earlier than restoring the shipments.
