Donald Trump stated that he intends to meet with Vladimir Putin in Budapest within two weeks. The U.S. president, according to him, is trying to stop the war in Ukraine to "help Europe" and "save many lives," writes DW.
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at a press conference at the White House on Thursday, October 16, assured that he would not allow Russia's war against Ukraine to escalate into a global conflict. "I think it could lead to World War III. But that won't happen," Trump stated.
The current American president attributed the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine to the misguided policies of his predecessor Joe Biden. "Ukraine was in Putin's sights, but he would never have done anything like that (during Trump's presidency - Ed.). This happened because some really bad decisions were made," the head of the White House said, noting that upon taking office, he found a "complete mess" in this matter.
Trump, by his own words, is trying to achieve an end to the war in Ukraine, "just to save the souls" of people. "I'm doing this not for us. We are separated by an ocean (from Europe - Ed.). I'm also doing this to help Europe. They want the war to end, but they can't achieve that. And I can. I think we will succeed, save many lives. It needs to be done," said the U.S. president.
Trump named the timing of his new meeting with Putin and the composition of the U.S. delegation
At the same press conference, the head of the White House announced that his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Budapest would take place "probably within two weeks." According to him, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio intends to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before that. Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will also participate in the negotiations with Russia, Trump indicated.
The head of the White House noted that the relationship between Putin and Zelensky is "terrible," and this hinders organizing a joint meeting with them. Trump also stated that he discussed with the Russian president the possibility of supplying American long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, and that Putin was "very unhappy" about such a prospect.
Meeting of the Presidents of the U.S. and Ukraine and Tomahawk Missiles
On October 17, a meeting is scheduled between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has arrived in the U.S. It is expected that they will discuss, among other things, the possibility of providing Ukraine with American long-range Tomahawk missiles, which the U.S. president mentioned a few days earlier. Zelensky promised that if Ukraine receives these missiles, they will be used only against military targets.
On October 16, Trump spoke with Putin on the phone for two hours, after which he announced that the two leaders agreed to meet in Budapest. The U.S. president also stated that "great progress" was made during the conversation, and he would discuss its outcomes with Zelensky on October 17. The Ukrainian leader wrote on Telegram: "Moscow is eager to resume dialogue, only hearing about the 'Tomahawks'.
