May 16, 2025: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed urgency in holding a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring that such a summit is essential for ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking during the final leg of his West Asia tour, Trump told reporters he wants to meet Putin “as soon as we can set it up,” according to CNN.
Trump emphasized that without his personal involvement, diplomatic efforts are unlikely to yield meaningful results. His remarks came just before a scheduled round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Turkey — the first face-to-face negotiations in months. Despite the potential significance of the meeting, both the U.S. government and Trump have expressed skepticism about any substantial progress being made.
“Nothing is going to happen on Ukraine until he and I meet,” Trump said, casting a future meeting with Putin as a crucial turning point in the stalled peace process.
Citing the devastating human toll of the war, Trump added, “5,000 young people are being killed every single week on average — and we’re going to get it done.”
When asked about the timeline for such a meeting, Trump said it could be arranged quickly. “I would actually leave here and go,” he stated, though he noted a brief detour to meet his newest grandchild — his daughter Tiffany Trump gave birth on Thursday, marking Trump’s 11th grandchild.
Trump also commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s absence from the Turkey meeting, claiming that Zelenskyy opted out after learning Putin wouldn’t be there. “He wasn’t going if I wasn’t there,” Trump asserted, reiterating his belief that a solution hinges on direct talks between him and the Russian leader.