Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump vows to meet Putin ‘very quickly’ as Nato chief says Kyiv not ready for talks
Donald Trump has said he is going to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin “very quickly” to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
The US president-elect’s comments came despite Nato chief Mark Rutte warning that Kyiv is not ready to enter peace talks with Moscow.
Mr Trump, who enters office next week, said of Putin: “I know he wants to meet and I’m going to meet [him] very quickly. I would’ve done it sooner but… you have to get into the office. For some of the things, you do have to be there,” he said, adding that the war has not “gone exactly well” for Russia.
In Europe, Mr Rutte urged allies to solidify Ukraine’s position before any potential peace talks.
“At this moment, clearly, Ukraine is not there,” the Nato secretary general said. “Peace will not last if Putin gets his way in Ukraine, because then he will press ahead,” he warned.
Earlier, the last written notes of a North Korean soldier revealed that Pyongyang’s troops are being used as bait by Russian troops to lure out Ukrainian drones on the battlefield.
