The President of the United States addresses Ukraine's accession to NATO and begins diplomatic discussions with both Putin and Zelenskiy.
On Wednesday, U.S. President
Donald Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine's practical chances of joining NATO at this moment and voiced concerns about the possibility of Ukraine reclaiming all of its lost territories.
Trump shared these insights during phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, underscoring a significant move towards diplomatic engagement concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In his call with Putin, which Trump characterized as 'a good conversation,' he suggested that future discussions between them could take place, with Saudi Arabia potentially serving as a host location.
The conversation with Putin lasted for over an hour, while the dialogue with Zelenskiy was also notable, lasting around one hour according to an official statement from Zelenskiy's office.
The Kremlin noted that Putin's exchange with Trump lasted for nearly an hour and a half.
After these talks, the two leaders considered the possibility of an in-person meeting, with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow.
These diplomatic exchanges are set against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which escalated sharply following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The conflict traces its origins to the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, continuing to be a contentious issue in international relations concerning Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.