US President Donald Trump has offered russian dictator vladimir putin a three-way meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but putin has declined Trump’s presence. Politico reported on Tuesday, August 19.

According to the publication, Trump tried to arrange a three-way meeting with putin. According to a senior US presidential administration official, when Trump called putin to offer his presence at the meeting between Zelenskyy and the russian leader, he did not agree to the presence of the US President.

“You don’t have to come. I want to see him (Zelenskyy, – Ed.) one on one,” putin said.

According to the official, Trump’s team has begun working to organize a meeting between Zelenskyy and putin, and US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff will be responsible for this.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on August 19, US President Donald Trump announced the start of preparations for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and russian president vladimir putin.

Also on August 19, Trump said that the possible deployment of troops of European NATO member states on the territory of Ukraine would not be a “problem” for putin.

At the same time, on August 19, Trump said that Ukraine should abandon hopes for the return of Crimea occupied by russia and accession to the North Atlantic Alliance.

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