Trump says Putin reluctant to meet Zelenskyy ‘because he doesn’t like him’

US President Donald Trump on Monday said Russian President Vladimir Putin is unwilling to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “because he doesn’t like him.”

“Why is Putin so reluctant to meet with Zelenskyy?” Trump was asked in the Oval Office. He replied, “Because he doesn’t like him.”

Trump confirms fresh talks with Putin

Trump confirmed he spoke again with Putin after their call last week, when he tried to set up direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Despite what he described as a “good conversation,” no breakthrough followed.

“Every conversation I have with him is a good conversation,” Trump said. “And then, unfortunately, a bomb is loaded up into Kyiv or someplace, and then I get very angry about it. I think we’re going to get the war done. It’s tough.”

Uncertainty over Putin-Zelenskyy meeting

Asked about the chances of the two leaders meeting face-to-face, Trump admitted: “I don’t know that they’ll meet. Maybe they will. Maybe they won’t.”

Last week, Trump hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington while also calling Putin. He said his aim was to arrange direct negotiations between the two presidents, potentially followed by a three-way summit including himself.

Trump warns of consequences if talks don’t happen

The US President also cautioned that there could be consequences if the leaders refuse to meet. “They should meet,” he said, adding he would wait “over the next week or two” before stepping in.

Lavrov dismisses chances of talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Putin would not meet Zelenskyy unless Ukraine accepts long-standing Russian conditions. He also questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, claiming his presidential term had expired.

‘Like mixing oil and vinegar’

Earlier, Trump compared the prospect of bringing Putin and Zelenskyy together to “mixing oil and vinegar.” Asked about his own participation in such a meeting, he replied: “We’ll see.”