Zelenskyy tells Trump he’s ready to discuss territory with Putin, Axios reports
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to discuss territorial issues, but stressed that this must be done directly with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Axios reports.
According to the outlet’s source, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy said he was willing to discuss territorial questions, but emphasized they should be addressed between him and Putin.
A Ukrainian official said Trump agreed with this.
Axios notes that when Trump called Putin on Monday evening, he told the Russian President he would have to meet directly with Zelenskyy to discuss his territorial demands. The US President also urged Putin to be "realistic."
Zelenskyy-Putin meeting
Trump and Putin met in Alaska on August 15. On August 18, Zelenskyy arrived in the US, where he held talks with Trump and European leaders at the White House.
After those talks, Trump called Putin to arrange a new round of leader-level negotiations.
Moscow pushed for a bilateral format, though a trilateral summit with the leaders of Ukraine, the US, and Russia may follow.
Geneva and Hungary are among possible venues for a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting. Switzerland has already declared its readiness to host the talks and grant Putin "immunity" from the ICC warrant.
According to Trump, a Zelenskyy-Putin meeting could take place in the coming weeks.
