Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he might meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month, downplaying Ukraine’s concerns about being excluded from U.S.-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia regarding the Ukraine war.
When asked if he still expected to meet Putin before the month’s end, Trump responded, “Probably,” as he concluded a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed reporters on U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh, stating that while both sides engaged in discussions, no date was set for a potential Trump-Putin summit on Ukraine.
This was the first time Trump commented publicly since U.S. officials established a working dialogue with Russia on Ukraine earlier in the day.
Addressing concerns from Kyiv about being left out of the talks, Trump dismissed the issue, arguing that Ukraine could have reached a deal with Russia three years ago to prevent Moscow’s invasion.
“Today I heard, ‘Oh, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been in this war for three years—you should have ended it. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,” he said.
Sean Savett, who served as a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council under former President Joe Biden, criticized Trump’s remarks, accusing him of echoing Russian propaganda.
“Sounds like Trump bought Putin’s propaganda hook, line, and sinker,” Savett wrote on social media. “A reminder no one should need: Putin started the war by invading Ukraine unprovoked, and his forces have committed war crimes against the Ukrainian people. Russia is solely responsible for this ongoing war.”
Trump also attacked Biden’s handling of the conflict, saying the current president had focused on supplying weapons to Ukraine instead of pursuing peace.
“I believe I have the power to end this war,” Trump asserted.
Additionally, Trump called for Ukraine to hold elections, emphasizing that this was not a demand from Russia but a stance supported by other nations as well.
Regarding European involvement, Trump said he would not oppose the deployment of European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, should the need arise.
“Having troops over there would be fine. I wouldn’t object to it at all,” he stated.
European leaders have recently discussed the possibility of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine to provide security guarantees if a peace deal is reached.
