Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon.” He believes Putin genuinely wants to end the war in Ukraine. “No time set, but it could be very soon,” Trump told reporters. His statement came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio played down expectations of immediate high-level peace talks.
Rubio is set to lead a high-level U.S. delegation to Saudi Arabia for discussions with Russian officials. The meetings aim to explore possibilities for ending the Ukraine war. However, Ukrainian participation in these talks remains uncertain. “Nothing’s been finalized yet,” Rubio said. He stressed that negotiations must include Ukraine and that peace would not be achieved in a single meeting.
Trump’s Team Engaging with Russia
Trump said his team has been in “long and hard” talks with Russian officials. He mentioned that his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, had a three-hour meeting with Putin recently. According to Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both want to end the war quickly.
Zelensky expressed concerns over Russia’s intentions. He warned that Moscow could wage war against a weakened NATO if Trump reduces U.S. support for the alliance. Trump dismissed Zelensky’s remarks, saying he was “not even a little bit” concerned.
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Uncertainty Over Russian and Ukrainian Roles
Rubio, who recently spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said Russia’s delegation for the Riyadh talks was still unclear. “One phone call does not make peace,” he said. He emphasized that negotiations would require serious commitments from all sides.
Trump and Putin held a lengthy phone call last Wednesday. They agreed to start ceasefire negotiations immediately. However, the call surprised NATO allies and Ukraine. Zelensky insisted that there should be “no decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
U.S. Officials Skeptical of Putin
Rubio remained cautious about Putin’s intentions. He told CBS News that resolving the Ukraine conflict would be difficult. “A process towards peace is not a one-meeting thing,” he said. He stressed that upcoming weeks would show whether Putin is serious about peace.
Zelensky, in an interview with NBC, called Putin a “serial liar.” He said the Russian president could not be trusted as a negotiating partner. Rubio echoed this view. “I don’t think in geopolitics, anyone should trust anyone,” he said.
The coming weeks will determine whether the latest diplomatic efforts can lead to an end to the Ukraine war.
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