Trump Expresses Hope for Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday voiced optimism about a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating that he believes the two leaders could reach an agreement to end the ongoing conflict in Europe. Trump made these remarks during a meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkiye.
"I just think they're going to make a deal. Look, it's been; this deal has been in the works for a long time. It's got the pluses, the minuses. They know what it is. He knows what it is better than anybody," Trump said. He added, "I believe that President Putin wants to get it done and that should be a good combination."
Pressure on Putin and Stakeholders
Trump indicated that there is significant pressure on Putin and other stakeholders to bring the conflict to an end. He claimed that the Russian leader is not satisfied with the current situation. "We have a lot of pressure. We have a lot of pressure on President Putin. I don't think he likes what's going on. I don't think he likes it. I don't think he's thrilled with what's happening. There's a lot of pressure on President Putin to get it done. I think there's pressure on everybody to get that one done. A lot of pressure," Trump said.
The US President expressed his expectation that both Putin and Zelenskyy will hold talks and hoped the engagement would yield a positive outcome. "He'll meet, and Zelenskyy is going to meet, and something's going to happen that's going to be positive. And I think I hope it's going to happen soon because they have to, number one lives but number two building your country because it's got a tremendous future in my opinion," Trump stated.
NATO Summit Context
Trump's comments came as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara to discuss security issues, including continued support for Ukraine and efforts to address the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The 2026 NATO Summit is being held from July 7 to July 8, with leaders focusing on three key priorities: increasing defence investment, strengthening the defence industry, and sustaining support for Ukraine.
The US President has repeatedly stated his desire to facilitate a negotiated settlement between Moscow and Kyiv, while Ukraine has maintained that any agreement must respect its sovereignty and security interests. The Ukraine-Russia conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, continues to be one of Europe's biggest security challenges.
Despite several diplomatic efforts and discussions on a possible ceasefire, the war has shown little sign of a lasting resolution, with fighting continuing across multiple fronts.
