President Trump leaves Middle East with plans to meet Putin
President Trump departed the Middle East as talks between Ukraine and Russia began. He said he plans to meet with President Vladimir Putin soon.
President Donald Trump will hold phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine Monday, he said in a Truth Social post Saturday.
He will first speak with Putin at 10 a.m., Trump said in the post.
“THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE “BLOODBATH” THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE,” he said.
Trump said he would then speak with Zelenskyy and with NATO member countries. Trump wrapped up a four day trip to the Middle East Friday.
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner swap May 16 in Istanbul during their first in person talks in 3 years. They last spoke in person a month after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Each side agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war soon and resume talks.
Putin and Zelenskyy were expected to attend the talks in person, but Putin withdrew and sent mid-level officials in his place. Zelenskyy named his defense minister to lead the talks in response.