The former U.S. president says a trip to Russia could happen after the Ukraine conflict is resolved.
Donald Trump has indicated he’s open to visiting Russia, but only if progress is made in peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. He made these comments alongside French President Emmanuel Macron during a press conference in Washington.
When questioned about a potential trip to Moscow, Trump said, “If all this gets settled down, which I think it will, sure, I would go there, and he’d come here too,” apparently suggesting that Vladimir Putin might also visit the U.S.
Asked about attending Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, Trump acknowledged the date was “pretty soon,” adding that a visit would happen “at the appropriate time.” He also stated his belief that the Ukraine conflict would end “within weeks.”
The possibility of Trump visiting Russia in May was initially reported by the French magazine Le Point. The publication claimed on Friday that “The scenario of Trump’s presence in Moscow alongside Putin on May 9 is being seriously considered in Europe.” However, both Moscow and Washington have since denied these reports.
Victory Day, which includes a large military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, is a symbol of national pride and military might. Attendance by foreign leaders is considered a sign of diplomatic favor.
In an effort to mediate a peaceful resolution between Russia and Ukraine, Trump spoke with Putin by phone for 90 minutes on February 12, where both leaders agreed to start negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
The following week, high-level discussions between American and Russian officials took place in Saudi Arabia, centering on creating a framework for a possible peace agreement and improving relations between the two countries. Sergey Lavrov described the talks as “very useful” and stated that the U.S. delegation had, for the first time, listened to Russia’s concerns.
During Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021, neither he nor Putin made an official visit to the other’s country. Their interactions were limited to meetings at international summits hosted in other countries.
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