Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his stance on the necessity of peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.
"Next week, I will probably meet with President Zelensky and, possibly, I will talk with President Putin. I would like this conflict to end," he said.
The US leader indicated that the meeting with Zelensky would likely take place in Washington.
He also criticized European countries for not contributing as much financial support to Ukraine as the United States, urging them to take on more responsibility for the conflict.
Trump also stated that he expects US investments in Ukraine, particularly in rare earth elements, to be secured as part of the ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, Zelensky emphasised the importance of meeting with Trump before talks with Putin, saying, "It is very important, otherwise it will look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine. It is still important for partners to discuss their issues first, and then have a conversation with the enemy."
In a Friday interview with Reuters, Zelensky also expressed a willingness to offer the US access to Ukrainian resources, including rare earths and underground LNG storage facilities, in exchange for security guarantees.
"This [Ukraine ed.] is very rich land. This does not mean that we are giving it away to anyone, even to strategic partners. We are talking about partnership," he said.
(ał)
Source: PAP, Reuters