Trump Wants To Meet Putin Despite Moscow’s Refusal To Include Ukraine’s President In Talks (Worthy News Radio)

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump says he is prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, despite Moscow’s refusal to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in peace discussions.

Trump made the comments after the Kremlin dismissed his proposal for a three-way summit, even as high-level talks continue aimed at ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump downplayed the need for Putin to meet with Zelenskyy prior to a U.S.-Russia meeting.

“No, he doesn’t,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question. “They would like to meet with me, and I’ll do whatever I can to stop the killing.

Trump spoke following discussions in Moscow between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Putin. The Kremlin welcomed Witkoff just ahead of Trump’s Friday deadline for Russia to agree to an Ukraine ceasefire — or face sweeping new U.S. sanctions.

Russian and U.S. officials described the talks as “useful and constructive”, though no specifics were disclosed.

STRIKES PAUSE

Sources familiar with the meeting said that a possible pause in Russian drone and missile strikes was being considered.

That suggestion comes amid intensified Russian attacks that have killed scores of civilians in Ukraine, including in the capital Kyiv.

Following the Moscow talks, Trump said he is ready to meet Putin “in person” as early as next week, potentially in a neutral third country.

He linked Putin’s renewed willingness to engage with the U.S. to his administration’s new tariffs on nations that continue purchasing Russian oil.

“We’ve made a lot of progress,” Trump told reporters. “We put a 50 percent tariff on India — they’re the second-largest [purchaser], very close to China in buying Russian oil. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but we’ve had very productive talks.”

Trump has not abandoned the idea of a future three-way summit involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy — notably excluding any participation from European Union representatives.

STOPPING WAR

He emphasized that talks are urgently needed to stop the war that began in February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Trump is pushing for a new sanctions package that could include the blacklisting of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — a group of aging oil tankers used to bypass Western sanctions.

Revenue from such crude oil shipments is believed to help fund Russia’s war efforts.

Additionally, a bipartisan bill in Washington is gaining momentum that would impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on countries that continue to import Russian energy products.

However, some nations — including Hungary and Slovakia — remain heavily reliant on Russian oil and gas supplies.

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