US President Donald Trump has said he would prefer not to attend a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
He told reporters that relations between Putin and Zelensky are far from ideal, but that Washington intends to verify whether they can cooperate.
"We'll see if there's a meeting. We plan to see if Putin and Zelensky can work together. You know, it's like putting oil and vinegar together: their relationship is not very good, for well-known reasons. But we'll see. We'll see if it's necessary for me to be there. I would prefer not to participate. I would like them to meet and try to make a deal, but in the meantime, the fighting continues ," Trump said.
Trump has stated that within two weeks he expects to learn the position of Russia and Ukraine regarding the possibility of ending the war. He warned that depending on developments, he will make a significant decision, which could include new sanctions against Moscow.
"I think in two weeks I will learn the position of Russia and, frankly, of Ukraine. At that point I will make a very important decision, which may include strong sanctions, tariffs, or both," Trump said.
Asked by reporters about the consequences of this decision, Trump did not rule out any scenario, leaving open the possibility that the US would not intervene further.
"We will decide what we will do. It could be massive sanctions, massive tariffs, both, or we could do nothing and tell them: This is your war," he said.
During a statement from the Oval Office, the president also expressed his disappointment over the recent Russian attacks, which have damaged an American factory operating in Ukraine.
"I'm not happy about this at all and I'm not happy about anything to do with that war. In two weeks we'll find out which way the situation is going, and I hope to be much happier then ," he said.
A meeting between the two leaders of the conflicting countries is expected to take place, but there is still no concrete date or confirmation from Moscow. Kiev has expressed its willingness to take steps towards ending the war, but without compromising Ukraine's territorial security.