Donald Trump Claims Putin Seeks to ‘End Hostilities’ in Ukraine Before Emergency European Leaders’ Discussions | World News

Donald Trump stated that Vladimir Putin desires to “stop fighting” in Ukraine, making these remarks just before an “emergency meeting” involving European leaders.

Emmanuel Macron is set to convene on Monday with figures such as Sir Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a swiftly organized summit in Paris to outline the next steps for Ukraine.

The French president aims to redefine Ukraine’s future during this informal gathering, which has been hurriedly arranged following announcements from the United States.

This meeting will coincide with the presence of senior US officials in Saudi Arabia for dialogues with Russia, which European representatives have not been invited to attend. It remains uncertain whether Ukraine will participate.

According to a Ukrainian official on Sunday, a delegation from Ukraine is already in Saudi Arabia to lay the groundwork for a potential visit from Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Yet, just a day before, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy had dismissed the possibility of Ukraine joining the talks.

“There’s nothing being proposed that warrants a discussion,” Mykhailo Podolyak mentioned during a TV interview.

Prior to attending a NASCAR event in Florida on Sunday, Mr. Trump expressed regarding Mr. Putin: “I think he wishes to cease hostilities.”

“Russia possesses a formidable military, as you know. They have triumphed over Hitler and Napoleon. They have been engaged in conflict for a long period.”

Mr. Macron’s meeting is anticipated to include British Prime Minister Sir Keir, Germany’s Mr. Scholz, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, among other European leaders.

In the lead-up to these discussions, Sir Keir has stated his willingness to contribute British forces to a peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine if a war-ending agreement is reached.

In an editorial for The Daily Telegraph, the Prime Minister noted that the UK is “prepared to take a prominent role” in securing Ukraine by pledging £3 billion annually until 2030 and “deploying our own troops on the ground if required”.

Also anticipated at the Paris summit are European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte.

The objective of the discussions is to “unite all partners invested in peace and security in Europe,” according to a statement from France.

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Meanwhile, representatives from the Trump administration are on their way to Saudi Arabia for peace negotiations with Russia. According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, these discussions are anticipated to commence in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Mr. Trump’s urgency for a swift resolution to Russia’s war on Ukraine has sparked apprehension and uncertainty among European leaders.

Following a recent conversation with Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he and the Russian leader will meet soon to negotiate a peace agreement concerning Ukraine.

He has reassured Mr. Zelenskyy that he will be included in discussions, but the participation of European officials remains uncertain.

The Ukrainian president has previously made it clear that he will not entertain any negotiations that exclude his country.