Maroc - EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 08/Feb 00:17

Trump Says He Will ‘Probably’ Meet With Zelenskyy Next Week

(RFE/RL) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said he is likely to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week, as U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine gather force, and Zelenskyy said it is important that the two meet in person before Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I will probably be meeting with President Zelenskyy next week," Trump said on February 7. He said the site of the meeting "could be Washington," adding that "I'm not going [to Kyiv.]" Trump has repeatedly vowed to bring a swift end to Russia's war against Ukraine, which later this month enters its fourth year since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of the neighboring country on February 24, 2022. The meeting would be their first since Trump began his new term on January 20. Trump spoke one week before the start of the February 14-16 Munich Security Conference, where the largest war in Europe since 1945 is certain to be among the main topics of discussion. Zelenskyy is expected to attend the annual gathering, as is Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg. Trump again mentioned Ukraine's natural resources, saying he wants "an equal amount of something" in exchange for U.S. support. "We would like them to equalize," he added."One of the things we're looking at with President Zelenskyy is having the security of their assets. They have assets underground, rare earth and other things, but primarily rare earth," he said. Kellogg earlier this week denied a report that the United States will unveil a peace plan for Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference. Trump and members of his administration have provided few details about any specific proposal for ending the war, but Kellogg said recently that both sides would have to "give a little bit," meaning make compromises. Zelenskyy said in an interview with Reuters on February 7 said it is "very important" that he and Trump meet before Trump meets with Putin, saying otherwise it will "look like a dialogue about Ukraine without Ukraine." "It is still important for partners to discuss their issues first, and then have a conversation with the enemy," Reuters quoted Zelenskyy as saying. No specific plans for a meeting between Trump and Putin have been announced. Zelenskyy repeated his call for firm Western security guarantees for Ukraine as a part of any truce or peace deal, and said it is crucial that the West determine a broad strategy before holding talks with Moscow, Reuters reported.Zelenskyy said that his team has had regular contacts with Kellogg and with Trump's national-security adviser, Michael Waltz.