U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday his eagerness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to help end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and work towards reducing nuclear weapons.
“I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon to get that war ended,” Trump said during a video link to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Later, speaking to reporters at the White House, he emphasized his readiness to meet Putin immediately. “From what I hear, Putin would like to see me, and we’ll leave as soon as we can. I’d meet immediately,” he stated.
Trump also mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had expressed readiness to make a deal to end the conflict. “President Zelenskyy is ready for peace, and so are we,” Trump added.
Russian President Putin earlier indicated Russia’s openness to dialogue with the new U.S. administration regarding the crisis. “We are open to dialogue with the new U.S. administration on the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said, emphasizing the importance of addressing the root causes of the situation.
Earlier in the week, Trump warned of imposing “high levels” of sanctions on Russia and tariffs on imports if Moscow did not work towards a settlement. “We want peace, but we are prepared to act if necessary,” he remarked.
On nuclear arms reduction, Trump expressed a strong desire to see denuclearization efforts advance. “We’d like to see denuclearization, and I will tell you President Putin really liked the idea of cutting way back on nuclear,” he said. “I think the rest of the world would follow.”
Russia suspended its participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the U.S. in February last year. The New START is the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the two nations, limiting both to deploying 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads on 700 delivery systems. Despite the suspension, U.S. officials in November noted that Russia remains within the limits set by the treaty.
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Trump says he wants to meet Putin soon to end Ukraine crisis
cgtn.com
