President Trump on Monday was not happy with Russia and Ukraine ahead of his scheduled calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The president has made it clear his goal is to see a cease-fire and to see this conflict come to an end, and he’s grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
“The president and his team have put an enormous amount of effort in solving this very complicated war that again began because of the last administration’s weakness,” she said.
Ms. Leavitt said she thinks “the president would certainly be open” to meeting with Mr. Putin.
Mr. Trump will speak with Mr. Putin, followed by a call with Mr. Zelenskyy.
The president posted on social media over the weekend that the subject of the call “will be stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade.”
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Mr. Trump said he will also call members of NATO.
Mr. Putin suggested an in-person meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, which was scheduled in Turkey last week when Mr. Trump was in the Middle East. But only Mr. Zelenskyy and his officials made the flight, and Mr. Putin instead sent representatives.
Mr. Trump said he wasn’t surprised that Mr. Putin didn’t show up to the talks in Turkey because he himself was not planning to attend.
He also said that nothing would happen in terms of an end to the fighting until he meets with Mr. Putin personally.
