Washington: US President Donald Trump has described efforts to organize a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as highly complex. Both leaders have imposed strict conditions for the proposed summit, making coordination difficult. Trump likened the process to mixing oil and vinegar, emphasizing that just as the two substances do not blend easily, bringing Putin and Zelensky together requires considerable effort. He also stated that he would not personally attend the bilateral meeting.
Trump expressed frustration over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, noting that despite previously claiming to have ended seven conflicts, halting this war has proven particularly challenging. He highlighted that Putin continues to add restrictions while Zelensky remains firm, and that even extensive mediation has failed to produce results. Nearly 7,000 lives have already been lost in the conflict. Trump stressed the importance of a direct meeting between the two leaders to reach an agreement, warning that failure could result in severe sanctions on Russia, including tariffs of 25–50% on Russian goods.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has presented new demands to the US regarding Ukraine’s security, while opposing European proposals to deploy forces in Ukraine. Russia, in coordination with China and allied European countries, intends to oversee Ukraine’s security and insists that Ukraine relinquish the Donbas region and abandon NATO aspirations—a demand Ukraine has so far rejected. Trump has decided to maintain diplomatic engagement until a meeting between Putin and Zelensky can be arranged.