U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet this month to discuss ending the Ukraine conflict, marking a potential turning point in the war that has gripped Europe. The announcement came after U.S. and Russian diplomats held closed-door talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, described by the Kremlin as a \"very, very important step\" toward peace.
Trump shocked observers with blunt criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference, saying Ukraine could’ve \"made a deal\" with Russia years ago. \"You should’ve never started it,\" he added, calling Zelenskyy \"grossly incompetent\" as a negotiator 🗣️💥.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that diplomatic efforts are just beginning: \"It’s impossible to fix everything in one day.\" The U.S. also signaled openness to European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine—though Trump clarified America won’t send forces due to its \"far away\" location 🌍✈️.
Zelenskyy, who canceled a planned Saudi Arabia trip to avoid \"coincidences,\" insists any peace deal requires \"security guarantees\" for Ukraine. The developments come as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new bilateral agreement to establish a high-level negotiation team 🤝📜.
