Trump says he 'would love to meet' Putin as ceasefire talks continue
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Donald Trump discusses meeting with Putin and the potential ceasefire in Ukraine during talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte.
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US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16, 2018. (AP)
US President Donald Trump said he would "love to meet" his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and talk to him as discussions for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine continue.
"I’d love to meet with him [Putin] and talk to him,” Trump said at the top of his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, as cited by the White House press pool.
Further discussing the ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, Trump said it would be "disappointing" if Putin rejected the proposal for a 30-day halt in fighting.
"We're going to see whether or not Russia's there and if they're not, it'll be a very disappointing moment for the world," he declared.
Putin, in this context, has indicated a willingness to consider a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but noted that its implementation must address deeper issues rather than serve as a mere pause in hostilities.
Speaking at a press conference after his meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin acknowledged the proposal but stressed the need for guarantees ensuring long-term stability.
"We agree with the proposal to stop the hostilities," Putin stated. However, he maintained that the ceasefire must contribute to resolving the underlying causes of the conflict rather than simply freezing the situation temporarily.
Despite the push for a ceasefire, Putin expressed skepticism about its practical implications, particularly in contested regions like Kalinina in the Kursk region.
He questioned, "What does it mean if we stop the hostilities for 30 days? That all who are there will leave without a fight, that we have to let them leave after they have committed numerous crimes against civilians? Or the Ukrainian leadership gives them an order to surrender their weapons?"
Putin's comments suggest Moscow remains concerned that a temporary truce could allow Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm, potentially extending the conflict rather than resolving it. His insistence on additional conditions might indicate that Russia is unlikely to accept the proposal without specific security guarantees.
Read more: As Russia gains ground in Kursk, Witkoff lands in Moscow
