Washington, September 2026 : US President Donald Trump has said Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, raising the possibility of another direct meeting between the two leaders.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for a trip to Dallas on Wednesday, Trump described his latest conversation with Putin as a “great conversation” and said Moscow appeared willing to pursue a deal.
“He is wanting to make a deal. And if Zelensky is wanting to make a deal, that would be very nice,” Trump said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump attributed the continuing deadlock primarily to the strained relationship between Putin and Zelensky. Asked what was preventing an agreement, he said the main obstacle was “two people that hate each other.”
“The holdup is two people that hate each other,” Trump said, reiterating that he believed the personal hostility between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders was a major barrier to peace.
Trump did not provide details about his latest conversation with Putin. He did not disclose when the call took place, how long it lasted or what specific proposals may have been discussed.
Asked why he believed progress could now be possible, Trump pointed to his long experience in dealing with people and negotiating agreements.
“I think that because I speak to people -- that's all I do, is speak to people my whole life,” he said.
Trump added that both sides may be increasingly exhausted by the prolonged conflict. “I know about deals, and these are two people that are tired of fighting,” he said.
The US President also indicated that another bilateral meeting with Putin could take place, although he did not reveal a possible date or venue.
“It could happen. We had a good conversation. It could happen,” Trump said.
Trump has repeatedly sought to position himself as a potential mediator in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. His latest comments suggested that he believes direct engagement between the two sides could help overcome the current stalemate.
Highlighting the human cost of the conflict, Trump said the continuing loss of life made a settlement increasingly urgent.
“Too many people are dying in that war, 25,000 last month,” Trump said, referring to his estimate of casualties during the previous month.
His remarks come as diplomatic efforts continue to face significant challenges, with disagreements over security guarantees, territory and the terms of any potential ceasefire or peace agreement remaining central to negotiations.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
