Trump backs Zelenskyy plan for direct talks with Putin to end Russia-Ukraine war – USA Today

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump gave his endorsement to a pitch by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to see if the two nations can come to a deal in their ongoing war without U.S. involvement.
Zelenskyy published an open letter to Putin on June 4 in which he proposed the two leaders meet to agree about an end to the war, warning that Kyiv stood ready to fight on otherwise.
With the United States focused on the conflict in Iran, Zelenskyy said, “It would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe returns to the center of its attention.”
And the path to peace, he said, had to start at the frontline, “the line from which diplomacy must begin.” Ukraine, Zelenskyy said, stood for “a full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations. This is standard practice.”
Zelenskyy’s office said the letter had been sent to other countries, including the United States. The Ukrainian president also said the majority of Russians had grown tired of missile and drone attacks, inflation and fuel shortages, and were ready for peace.
Asked about the letter in the Oval Office, Trump cast the proposal as a positive development. “I think it would be great if they met. They should. To get it done,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy proposed setting a clear date for a meeting and said several countries had “traditionally hosted leaders to resolve issues of war and peace,” citing Switzerland, Turkey and the countries of the Arab world.
“Do not be afraid to take the path out of this war. That is the main thing that is required of you now,” Zelenskky wrote.
“Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us — and you. I am proposing a meeting…If you do not personally come to the conclusion that it is time to end this war, Ukraine will continue fighting for its existence.”
And continued war, Zelenskyy suggested, could threaten Putin’s personal position.
“It is a fact of Russian history that you know well: when Russia grows tired, change comes.”
In Moscow, the Kremlin said it had seen Zelenskyy’s letter and that Putin would be briefed on it.
Speaking to a group of senior editors of news agencies at a meeting in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Putin said pieces of Trump’s proposals to end the war “may well be the basis for peace agreements.” But those require compromises, he said, according to a translation. “And compromise for both sides. For Russia, too. And we generally agreed with these compromises.”
Trump declined during a televised Oval Office event later in the day to say what concessions Putin agreed to make to bring about an end to the war that began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“It’s going to happen. They’re going to both make compromises. I suggested those compromises,” Trump said. “I’ve been very strong on the fact that they’ve got to get that over with,” he added.
Contributing: Reuters

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