Russian President Vladimir Putin must meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before he can secure a bilateral with President Donald Trump, a White House official said Thursday.
The new precondition outlined by the White House comes after Trump told European leaders he intends to meet with Putin in person, followed by a trilateral with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. Trump told reporters late Wednesday that while there was a “really good prospect” of a meeting taking place, he wouldn’t classify it as a “breakthrough.”
The official was granted anonymity to share private conversations around the potential meetings.
Trump’s continued engagement suggests he still sees a window to end the conflict through diplomacy, though the new parameters could complicate Putin’s interest in the talks. The Russian president has so far resisted meeting with Zelenskyy, as it legitimizes him as the leader of Ukraine.
It also remains unclear what any of the potential meetings mean for Trump’s Friday deadline for imposing additional sanctions against countries that purchase Russian energy. The U.S. president has threatened to take that action to punish Moscow if Putin doesn’t take steps toward ending the war in Ukraine. Trump has grown increasingly angered at Russia’s role in prolonging the conflict and stymieing peace talks, as Moscow continues airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine.
