Trump suggests meeting Putin 'soon' as Saudi peace talks draw near

US President Donald Trump has said that he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "very soon," expressing his belief that Putin genuinely wants to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, AFP reported.

Trump, speaking to reporters after a flight on Air Force One, clarified that while no specific date is set, a meeting could happen in the near future. 

His comments came just hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to temper expectations for the upcoming high-level peace talks in Riyadh, which aim to address the war.

Rubio is leading the US delegation to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia as part of broader diplomatic efforts to end the brutal conflict, now nearing its third anniversary. 

Trump emphasised that his team, including his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, has been in ongoing talks with Russian officials, including a recent three-hour meeting between Witkoff and Putin. 

Trump added that he believes Putin is eager to end the conflict, with both him and Ukrainian President Zelensky seeking a swift resolution.

However, Trump dismissed concerns raised by Zelensky, who recently warned that Russia may target a weakened NATO if US support for the alliance decreases. 

Trump showed little concern over Zelensky's remarks, claiming that peace would not be achieved in a single meeting, as Rubio pointed out the complexity of resolving such a long-standing conflict. 

Rubio also stressed that "nothing has been finalised" regarding the talks, and it remains unclear whether Ukraine will be directly involved in the discussions. 

In the meantime, Trump and Putin agreed during a recent phone call to start ceasefire negotiations, though NATO allies and Ukraine have expressed skepticism.