WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced that he would have a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The U.S. President shared news of the upcoming dialogue with reporters while en route from Florida to Washington aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening.
“We will see if we have something to announce perhaps by Tuesday. I will be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday,” Trump stated. “A lot of work has been accomplished over the weekend. We hope to find a way to bring that war to a close.”
This conversation has the potential to be a pivotal moment in the conflict and could provide Trump with a chance to reshape American foreign policy. European allies remain cautious about Trump’s admiration for Putin and his stern approach toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who received significant criticism following his visit to the Oval Office just over two weeks ago.
Despite the initial failure of Russia to achieve its goal of overthrowing Ukraine during its invasion three years ago, it still maintains control over substantial territories within the country.
Trump mentioned that discussions about land and power plants will be integral to the conversation regarding the conclusion of the war.
“We will be discussing land. We will be discussing power plants,” he remarked.
Trump referred to it as “dividing up certain assets.”
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently traveled to Moscow to further negotiations, and he noted earlier on Sunday that a call between Trump and Putin could occur soon.
While speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump also stated that he is moving ahead with his plans for tariffs on April 2, despite the recent fluctuations in the stock market and concerns about the economic repercussions.
“April 2 is a liberating day for our country,” he declared. “We’re reclaiming some of the wealth that previous, very misguided presidents let go of because they had no understanding of what they were doing.”
While Trump has occasionally adjusted his tariff plans, such as those concerning Mexico, he emphasized that he does not plan to change his stance on reciprocal tariffs.
“They impose charges on us, and we impose them on them,” he explained. “Additionally, we will impose extra tariffs on autos, steel, and aluminum.”
