Trump Says He Supports Maintaining Direct Contacts with Putin
US president says he would invite Russian leader to G20 summit in December, emphasizes belief in dialogue
Quick Look
- US President Donald Trump said he supports maintaining direct contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin and would consider inviting him to the G20 summit in the US in December.
- Speaking at the White House, Trump said he is not opposed to talking to anyone during wartime, stating "I'm not one of these guys 'Oh, let's not talk to him, there is a war going on.'" He emphasized that as a "smart person," he believes in talking to everybody.
- The US leader added that the United States continues to work on a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The statement comes amid the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine, which began in February 2022. The US has historically maintained varying levels of diplomatic engagement with Russia, with direct contacts between leaders being a key element of international diplomacy.
WASHINGTON, April 24. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump said he supports maintaining direct contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he told reporters at the White House. Commenting on the possibility of inviting the Russian leader to the G20 summit in the United States in December this year, the US leader said that he is "of the opinion that you talk to everybody." "I'm not one of these guys 'Oh, let's not talk to him, there is a war going on'," the White House host noted. "I like talking to everybody. If you are a smart person, if you have control over your emotions and all the other things you need control over, I am somebody who believes in talking," Trump stressed. At the same time, he added that the United States continues to work on a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
Open Questions
- What specific topics would Trump discuss with Putin?
- Would this lead to any concrete diplomatic initiatives?
- How would Ukraine and European allies respond to increased US-Russia dialogue?
