- US president to hold key talks on Ukraine, Syria and regional security as diplomatic efforts intensify alongside the NATO gathering in Ankara.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is set to hold separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Wednesday during the NATO summit in Turkiye, the White House announced, as Washington intensifies diplomatic engagement on the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The meetings are expected to provide Ukraine with an opportunity to reinforce US support as Russia’s war enters its fifth year, while also allowing Trump to discuss Syria’s evolving role in regional security.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the meetings during a briefing with reporters ahead of the summit in Ankara. She said Trump will also meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday before concluding his visit with a news conference on Wednesday prior to returning to the United States.
Trump’s meeting with Zelensky comes at a pivotal stage in the Ukraine conflict. The two leaders spoke by telephone on Saturday, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin also held a separate call with Trump to congratulate him on the July 4 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Following his conversation with Trump, Zelensky said on X that the two leaders discussed developments on the battlefield, where analysts say Russia’s offensive has slowed while Ukraine has expanded its long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
The Ukrainian president expressed optimism about the prospects for peace, saying there was “a real prospect of ending this war,” and indicated that discussions would continue during the NATO summit.
According to Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, Putin told Trump that Russia remains open to ending the conflict through negotiations. Ushakov said Trump reaffirmed his willingness to help secure a swift cessation of hostilities and support efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement.
A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump remains determined to help end the war and plans to discuss practical pathways toward peace with Zelensky. The official added that Trump is expected to follow up with Putin after his meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Ankara.
The White House did not disclose specific objectives for Trump’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
The meeting comes amid continued speculation over Syria’s potential role in regional security. As the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah has complicated broader diplomatic efforts related to Iran, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Syria should confront Hezbollah, a proposal that has drawn widespread attention across the region.
Al-Sharaa, whose rebel coalition overthrew former Syrian President Bashar Assad, has publicly rejected the idea of engaging in military action against Hezbollah. He has maintained that his government has no intention of opening a new front and has suggested that Trump’s previous remarks on the issue were misunderstood, despite the US president reiterating his position on multiple occasions.
The high-level meetings underscore the broad diplomatic agenda surrounding the NATO summit, where the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are expected to dominate discussions among allied leaders.
BY: The Times Union
