President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine, while increasing his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
President Trump suggested that a meeting between world leaders reportedly proposed by President Putin could be held without Zelenskyy in attendance.
Asked about the possibility of a meeting as he left the White House for a campaign rally in Kansas, Trump told reporters: “Whether anyone is there or not, we will do whatever we can to end the war.”
The comments came as tensions between President Trump and President Zelenskiy have steadily increased in recent weeks, while Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, has received multiple reprieves from the United States.
Trump initially suggested he was interested in discussing “denuclearization” with Putin and Xi, saying, “Frankly, Russia is fine with Ukraine. They’re not doing much.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that President Putin, in a telephone conversation with President Trump on October 9, suggested that he would hold a trilateral summit with President Xi next month.
The meeting could be held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference to be held in Shenzhen, China on November 18 and November 19, the newspaper reported.
“If President Xi wants it, I’ll do it. We’ll talk about other things, like trade, but yeah, I’ll do it,” Trump said Monday.
He also said Russia and China, which are accused of supporting Iran in its continued military efforts against the United States, have done “almost nothing” against Iran.
And when asked about President Zelensky’s criticism of President Trump’s recent decision to lift new sanctions on Russia, and his recent claims that President Trump is on the wrong side of history, the US president again slammed the Ukrainian leader.
“Mr. Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Trump said. “Mr. Zelenskiy is the person who should have solved this war a long time ago.”
Trump added, “I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” repeating his earlier call for Kiev to “get a new president.”
Zelenskiy talked about Starlink and StarShield, important satellite services provided by Elon Musk. space xhas recently deteriorated, and U.S. intelligence sharing has also been disrupted, leaving Ukraine without advance warning of a Russian attack.
“No explanation has been given to Ukraine from the American side on any of these issues,” President Zelenskyy said early Monday after a telephone conversation with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers from both houses of Congress.
Speaking outside the White House, President Trump said he did not know who ordered the disruption of Starlink service, “but I would like to know.”
Musk said last week that the U.S. government and Trump were “ultimately” responsible for the economic slowdown. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the US caused the obstruction, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Zelenskiy to “be very careful about making such false statements.”
Mr. Zelensky also renewed his criticism of President Trump’s decision to waive key provisions of the new Russia sanctions bill, which passed Congress with broad bipartisan support and was signed into law last month.
He said he showed lawmakers photos of the scene of a Russian attack in the Kharkiv region that killed six people, including a mother and a one-year-old child.
“This is Russia’s response to lifting sanctions and easing pressure,” Zelenskiy said.
“Funding Russia’s war machine, disabling Ukraine’s satellite communications, and destroying its air defenses are all obstacles to peace,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Thom Tillis, R-S.C., said in a joint statement after the meeting.
“Trying to appease a brutal thug like Vladimir Putin will only prolong this war and cause more casualties,” the senators said.
President Trump had already been criticized by lawmakers of both parties after announcing a deal that would allow Russia to supply diesel fuel to global markets despite existing sanctions.
But Trump shot back in Monday’s remarks, saying he was “not going to break off” negotiations with Putin on the Ukraine, Iran, Diesel and hostage release agreements.
