Trump evokes a probable meeting with Putin before the end of the month and says he is “very disappointed” of Zelensky’s words

He remains sure of him, despite the criticisms of his European allies. Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would “probably” meet Vladimir Putin before the end of February, a few hours after a Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia in particular to mention a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

Questioned by a journalist on the possibility of such an encounter with his Russian counterpart before the end of the month, the American president hosted his head and replied “probably”, before leaving the room of his residence Mar-A-Lago, in Florida, where he had just given a press conference.

By calling the Russian President on the phone last week to consider setting up directly with him an end of the conflict in Ukraine, Donald Trump caused a shock in Europe and Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky denouncing talks on Tuesday “on Ukraine without Ukraine ”.

“I am very disappointed” of these words, replied Donald Trump. “I hear that they are angry not to have a seat (at the negotiating table), when they had a seat for three years, and even well before that,” said the Republican. According to him, this conflict could have been avoided and an agreement could have been signed. “I could have concluded an agreement for Ukraine,” he added. “It would have given them almost all the ground, everything, almost the whole country and no people would have killed, and no city would have been demolished.” However, the American president estimated after the meeting of Ryad, in Saudi Arabia, that he had “the power to put an end to this war”.

“Totally favorable” to sending European peacekeeping troops

Russians and Americans agreed on Tuesday in Ryad to establish a “consultation mechanism” intended to settle their litigation and will appoint negotiators on the war in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after the first talks of this level between Russians and Americans since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, said he was “convinced” that Russia wanted to commit In a “serious process” to end war. For his part, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, said that the Americans had started to “better understand” the position of Moscow.

Asked about the idea, which emerges and divides European countries, to send European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, Donald Trump replied: “If they want to do this, it’s great. I am totally favorable to it “, specifying that” we (the United States) do not have to send it there, because, you know, we are very far “.

The fact remains that this idea is categorically rejected by Russia is firmly opposed. “We have explained that the deployment in Ukraine of troops of the armed forces of NATO countries, but under another flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flags does not change anything. This is of course unacceptable, ”said Sergei Lavrov.

In an interview with French newspapers including Le Parisien today in France, President Emmanuel Macron said that “France is not about to send troops to the ground, belligerent in a conflict, on the front” in Ukraine. He announced that he would organize a new meeting on Wednesday “with several European and non -European states” on Ukraine. President Trump “can rewrite a useful dialogue” with President Putin, said the French head of state. “He recreates strategic ambiguity for President Putin” by using “very firm words” and by creating “uncertainty” which “can help put pressure”.