Trump says he could meet Putin this month, dismisses Ukraine's concerns

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump said he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month and dismissed Ukraine's concerns that it would be left out of US-Russian negotiations in Saudi Arabia on ending the Ukrainian war, Reuters reported.

"Probably," Trump said, concluding a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach when asked if he still expected to meet Putin before the end of the month.

Briefing reporters on US-Russian talks in Riyadh, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the parties had not set a date for a Trump-Putin summit to discuss Ukraine.

Trump spoke for the first time since a US delegation established a working dialogue with Russia on Ukraine during talks in Riyadh earlier that day.

He dismissed Ukraine's concerns about being left out of the meeting, saying Kyiv could have made a deal with Russia three years ago to prevent Moscow's invasion.

"Today I heard, 'Oh, we weren't invited.' Well, you've been there for three years, you should have ended it... you should never have started. You could have made a deal," Trump said.

Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council during former
President Joe Biden's administration, said on social media that Russia started the war.

"A reminder that no one should need: Putin started the war with an unprovoked
invasion of Ukraine and his forces have committed war crimes against the Ukrainian people. Russia is the party responsible for the continuation of this war."

"I think I have the power to end this war," Trump said.

Trump also said Ukraine should hold elections.

"It's not Russia's business, it comes from me and it comes from many other countries," he said.

Trump said he would not oppose Europeans if they wanted to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. European leaders have discussed sending peacekeeping forces to provide security guarantees in the event of a peace agreement.

"It would be okay for soldiers to be there, I would not oppose it," Trump said.