Trump is set to meet with the leaders of Ukraine and Syria during the NATO summit
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during his visit to Turkey this week for a NATO summit, aiming to reinvigorate efforts to conclude the war in Ukraine, according to a senior U.S. official on Sunday.
Trump is set to arrive at the summit on Tuesday. His initial meeting will be with the summit host, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. Trump is set to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and will hold a news conference, according to the White House.
A senior U.S. official, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity regarding the trip, indicated that Trump is set to meet with Zelenskiy on Wednesday to discuss “how we can end the war.
The battlefield has evidently become stagnant over the past few months, with neither side achieving significant advancements,” the official stated. The president experiences a genuine urgency to work towards halting this situation.
Trump will also encourage NATO allies to boost their defense spending, according to the official. He will convey that message personally,” the official stated.
Defense-related agreements valued at billions of dollars are set to be revealed during the summit, according to the official, who did not disclose further details.
European officials express optimism that Trump’s solid connections with Erdogan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will facilitate a successful summit. However, the Europeans continue to feel uncertain due to the lingering transatlantic resentment stemming from the Iran War and the U.S. president’s regular critiques of NATO.
Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with NATO members for not providing greater support to the United States in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
On Saturday, the U.S. leader engaged in a 90-minute conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and extended an offer to assist in finding a resolution to the Ukraine war, as stated by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov in remarks released early on Sunday.
Trump has previously expressed sorrow over the level of death and destruction experienced by both sides of the conflict. Recently, Ukraine has successfully slowed or halted Russian advances, increasing pressure on Putin.
The senior U.S. official indicated that Trump is expected to reach out to Putin following his conversation with Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy last month requested a one-on-one meeting with Putin, but the Kremlin leader declined.
Russia has stated that any resolution must involve Moscow taking complete control over Ukraine’s Donbas region. Ukraine disputes that claim.
