President Trump plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as early as next week as he pushes to end their war.
Mr. Trump told European leaders Wednesday that he plans to meet first with Mr. Putin, then follow that up with a meeting both Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy, two people familiar with the plan told The New York Times.
The plan was shared while on a call with the European leaders. He reportedly told them that no European officials will be present for his meeting with Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy.
The sources said the European officials seemed accepting of the plan. The call included the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the NATO secretary general and officials from the U.S., including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Mr. Trump announced Wednesday that he had spoken to European allies to share with them the “great progress” that was made in a meeting earlier in the day between Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Putin.
“Afterwards, I updated some of our European Allies. Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come,” he said in the post.
Mr. Zelenskyy said in a social media post that he was on the call that Mr. Trump had with European leaders after Mr. Witkoff met with Mr. Putin.
“Our joint position with our partners is absolutely clear – the war must end. And it must be done honestly,” Mr. Zelenskyy wrote. “European leaders were on the call, and I am grateful to each of them for their support. We discussed what was spelled out in Moscow. Ukraine will definitely defend its independence. We all need a lasting and reliable peace. Russia must end the war that it itself started. Thank you to everyone who stands with Ukraine.”
He didn’t acknowledge or confirm Mr. Trump’s plan of the meeting with Mr. Putin. The Russian president hasn’t said anything about it, either.
Mr. Trump has ramped up his efforts to end the war that started in February 2022, something he pledged to do his first day in office, but more than six months later has not been accomplished.
Late last month, Mr. Trump gave Russia 10 days to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine or face sanctions and penalties. That deadline is Aug. 8, and the clock is ticking. Mr. Trump announced Wednesday that he would add a 25% tariff on India as a penalty for purchasing Russian oil.
The 10 days were a much shorter deadline than the initial 50-day window Mr. Trump gave Russia earlier this year.
Russia so far has been exempt from the list of countries that have been slapped with tariffs. But the president is hoping the threat of penalties on Russia and countries that get energy from Russia, will put pressure on Moscow to end the war.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.