Trump wants to meet Putin after Russian leader declines to meet with Ukraine President Zelensky

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — President Trump said he wants to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible after the top-level in-person Russia-Ukraine talks fell through.

“As soon as we can set it up,” Trump told reporters on his Middle East trip about the timeline of meeting face-to-face with Putin.

Trump was hopeful that Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would meet in Turkey on Thursday for their first round of in-person negotiations to end the three-year long war in Ukraine.

Zelensky was ready to meet with Putin, but the Russian president ultimately didn’t go, sending his officials instead.

Trump was floating making a stop in Turkey on his way back to Washington to serve as a mediator between the two countries — but said he “understands” that Putin didn’t want to go.

“We’re going to get it done,” Trump said about getting a peace deal through.