Trump may meet Putin next week

KABUL (Pajhwok): A White House official has said that US President Donald Trump may meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.

Reuters reported this will be the first face-to-face meeting between the presidents of the United States and Russia since Biden and Putin met in Geneva in June 2021.

Trump, in a call with European leaders, said he planned to meet with Putin first and then hold a trilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, according to the New York Times.

Trump told media: “There is a high probability that a meeting will take place soon”.

White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt explained Russia has expressed a desire to meet with President Trump, and Trump is prepared to meet with both Presidents Putin and Zelensky.

The diplomatic efforts come just two days before a deadline Trump has set for Russia to reach a peace deal in Ukraine, or face new sanctions.

hz/ma