Trump Says He Will Finalize Russia-Ukraine Deal After Putin-Zelenskiy Meeting

President Donald Trump said he is prepared to finalize an agreement aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict but will do so only after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hold direct talks. “It takes two to tango… I will close the deal after Putin and Zelenskiy meet,” Trump told reporters on 25 August. Trump added that arranging such a summit is “up to” Moscow and Kyiv, and acknowledged he does not know whether the two leaders will agree to meet. His remarks signal Washington’s intention to play a decisive role in any eventual settlement while putting the onus on Russia and Ukraine to restart high-level negotiations, which have been stalled for months amid continued fighting.