Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. When asked why Putin avoids meeting Zelenskyy, he responded directly: “Because he doesn’t like him.”

Fresh Talks With Putin But No Breakthrough

Trump confirmed he had another phone call with Putin, following their discussion last week. He said he tried to arrange direct talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, despite what he called a “good conversation,” the effort did not produce progress.

“Every conversation I have with him is a good conversation,” Trump said. “And then, unfortunately, a bomb is loaded up into Kyiv or someplace, and then I get very angry about it. I think we’re going to get the war done. It’s tough.”

Uncertainty Over Putin-Zelenskyy Meeting

Reporters asked Trump about the chances of a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. He admitted the outcome was unclear. “I don’t know that they’ll meet. Maybe they will. Maybe they won’t,” he said.

Last week, Trump had hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington while also speaking with Putin. He explained that his goal was to set up direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy, possibly followed by a three-way summit that would also include him.

Trump Warns of Consequences if Talks Fail

The US President stressed that both leaders should meet soon. “They should meet,” he said, adding that he would wait “over the next week or two” before personally stepping in.

Russia Rejects the Idea

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the possibility of such talks. He insisted Putin would not meet Zelenskyy unless Ukraine accepted Russia’s long-standing conditions. Lavrov also challenged Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, claiming his presidential term had already expired.

Trump Compares Leaders to Oil and Vinegar

Earlier, Trump described the difficulty of bringing Putin and Zelenskyy together. He said it was like trying to “mix oil and vinegar.” When asked if he would take part in such a meeting, he replied: “We’ll see.”