Trump ahead of meeting with Putin: I would like to see a ceasefire, but it takes two to tango

US President Donald Trump said last night at the White House that his meeting with Vladimir Putin would be a "get-to-know-you talk," but he believes the Russian president "wants to get it done as soon as possible".

"I am going to talk to Vladimir Putin and I will tell him: 'You have to stop this war, you have to end it'," Trump said. He also stated that he would "try to get some territory back for Ukraine" during the meeting with the Russian president.

"Russia has occupied a large part of Ukraine. They have occupied strategically important territory. We will try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine," he said at a press conference at the White House.

He added that he hopes for a "constructive" conversation and that immediately after the meeting, "perhaps as he is leaving the room or while he is on the plane," he will call European leaders to inform them about the content of the talks.

"I get along great, I think, with all of them. I get along with Zelensky, but I very, very seriously disagree with what he has done. This is a war that should never have happened… But I will talk to Zelensky. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky and Putin together, and I will be there if they need me," Trump said.

Trump again criticized the Ukrainian president, emphasizing: "It bothered me a little that Zelensky said he needed constitutional approval. I mean, he has approval to go to war and kill people, but he needs approval to make a territorial exchange? There will be territorial exchanges, I know this through contacts with Russia and through talks with everyone – for the good of Ukraine. Good things, not bad things, although there will be bad things for both sides. So, there is good and bad, but it is very complex because the borders are not straight. There will be some exchanges, some territorial changes."

Trump said he can negotiate an agreement, but the decision to accept or reject it will be up to Ukraine.

"I am going to meet with him (Putin), we will see what the parameters are, and then I will call President Zelensky and the European leaders and tell them what the offer might be. I will not make an agreement, it is not up to me. I think an agreement should be reached for both sides."

Finally, he emphasized: "I would like to see a ceasefire. I would like to see the best possible deal reached for both sides. You know, it takes two to tango."