Key facts
- U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to meet at the NATO summit in Ankara.
- The meeting aims to discuss reviving diplomacy for the Russia-Ukraine war and strengthening Ukraine's air defenses.
- Trump has spoken separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy about the conflict.
- Trump expressed optimism that the war will be settled soon, stating both Putin and Zelenskyy want to make a deal.
- Zelenskyy plans to discuss Ukraine's need for air defense systems during his meeting with Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, expressing hope that the war in Ukraine would soon be settled. Trump made these remarks during a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO summit in Ankara.
Trump indicated that both Putin and Zelenskyy are looking to reach a deal, stating, 'I think they both want to make a deal. ... I think we're going to get it settled, hopefully soon.' He described his conversation with Putin as 'very good' and 'long,' lasting approximately 90 minutes.
Trump and Zelenskyy are expected to meet at the NATO summit on Wednesday. This meeting follows months of intensified Ukrainian attacks on Russia's energy sector and significant Russian strikes that resulted in 50 deaths in Ukraine's capital in July alone. Zelenskyy stated he plans to discuss Ukraine's urgent need for air defense systems to counter Russia's ballistic missile attacks.
Senior U.S. officials have described the battlefield as largely stalled, increasing the urgency for a negotiated settlement. NATO allies have committed nearly $139 billion in additional defense spending, with a focus on burden-sharing, and have $300 billion in back orders with U.S. defense manufacturers. The Pentagon is reviewing U.S. troop deployments in Europe as part of a strategy to rebalance military resources and encourage European self-reliance.