WASHINGTON — President Trump has announced plans to speak with Russian President Putin on Tuesday in an effort to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
The President informed reporters of the scheduled discussion while traveling from Florida to Washington aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening.
“We may have an announcement by Tuesday. I am scheduled to speak with President Putin on Tuesday,” Trump stated. “Significant progress has been made over the weekend, and our goal is to bring an end to the war.”
This conversation could mark a crucial turning point in the conflict and provide Trump with an opportunity to further reshape U.S. foreign policy. European allies are concerned about Trump’s apparent favor towards Putin and his tough stance on Ukrainian President Zelensky, who recently faced criticism during his visit to the Oval Office just over two weeks ago.
Despite Russia’s initial failure to conquer Ukraine three years ago, they still maintain control over a large portion of the country.
Trump indicated that land and power infrastructure will be part of the discussions aimed at ending the war.
“We will be discussing land and power plants,” he confirmed.
Trump described the discussion as potentially involving “dividing up certain assets.”
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Moscow to facilitate negotiations, suggesting earlier on Sunday that a call between Trump and Putin was imminent.
During his conversation with reporters on Air Force One, Trump reiterated his intention to proceed with tariff plans on April 2, despite recent market volatility and economic concerns.
“April 2 will be a liberating day for our country,” he said. “We are reclaiming some of the wealth that past presidents carelessly gave away due to their lack of understanding.”
While Trump has occasionally adjusted tariff plans, such as with Mexico, he affirmed his commitment to reciprocal tariffs.
“They impose charges on us, and we will impose charges on them,” he explained. “Furthermore, we will implement additional tariffs on automobiles, steel, and aluminum.”