Trump Engages Putin Before Meeting Zelenskyy

US President Donald Trump is currently in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on October 17. The talks with Putin are described as "ongoing" and "lengthy," with Trump promising to share details after the conversation concludes.

The discussions come as Zelenskyy has been urging the US to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, which would enable Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory. Zelenskyy believes that such military support could pressure Putin to engage in direct negotiations to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Trump has recently adopted a tougher stance towards Russia, expressing frustration with Putin's actions in Ukraine. He indicated that he would discuss the potential sale of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine during his call with Putin, stating, "Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so. I think I might speak to Russia about that."

The backdrop of these discussions includes Trump's recent diplomatic efforts in West Asia, where he helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He has expressed renewed confidence in his ability to influence the situation in Ukraine, stating, "Interestingly we made progress today, because of what's happened in the Middle East."

As the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year, Trump has made it clear that ending this conflict is a priority for his 2024 reelection campaign. He has criticized former President Joe Biden's handling of the situation and emphasized the need to focus on resolving the war in Europe, saying, "First we have to get Russia done."

The outcome of Trump's discussions with both Putin and Zelenskyy could have significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and US foreign policy in the region.