Trump's briefing highlights: No NATO membership for Kiev, Ukrainian land concessions, and negotiation site with Putin
Donald Trump has indicated that Ukraine is probably not going to join NATO or revert to its borders from 2014, after his conversation with Vladimir Putin.. source:TROIB RTS
TroibNews 
The US president addressed the media on Wednesday after what he characterized as a “great” phone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, focusing on the conflict in Ukraine.
Here are the key takeaways from Trump's comments regarding his discussions with Putin and the future of Ukraine:
**Saudi Arabia as a Potential Venue for a Historic Summit**
Trump referred to his conversation with Putin as “great” and indicated that he later had productive talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. He suggested that an in-person meeting with Putin could take place, mentioning, “The first time we’ll meet in Saudi Arabia, see if we can get something done… We know the Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman], and I think it’d be a very good place to meet.”
While Trump did not provide a specific date for the summit, he mentioned it could occur in the “not too distant future.” He also mentioned the possibility of mutual visits, stating, “In fact, we expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there.”
Trump indicated that Zelensky would “probably” not attend the potential Saudi summit and remarked that he “[hasn’t] committed to go to Ukraine.”
**No NATO Membership for Kiev**
Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine joining NATO, saying he does not find it “practical” and echoed comments from his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. He recalled that NATO membership for Ukraine has long been a red line for Russia, stating, “I think long before President Putin, they said there’s no way they’d allow that. This has been going on for many, many years. They’ve been saying that for a long time, that Ukraine cannot go into NATO. And I’m okay with that.”
**Pre-2014 Borders 'Unlikely'**
When discussing Ukraine's chances of regaining lost territory to Russia, Trump stated that it seems “unlikely,” adding, “They took a lot of land, and they fought for that land, and they lost a lot of soldiers.” However, he asserted that some of the territory currently controlled by Russia might return, claiming “some of it will come back.”
Since 2014, Crimea has been under Russian control following a vote after the Western-backed coup in Kiev, with Ukraine continuing to claim it as part of its territory. Areas like Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye followed Crimea in voting to join Russia in late 2022.
**Elections for Zelensky**
Trump responded to claims that he is “freezing out” Zelensky from the peace process, indicating that the Ukrainian leader, whose presidential term ends in May 2024 and is regarded as “illegitimate” by Russia, must hold an election eventually. He acknowledged Zelensky's demand for “guarantees of security” but refrained from elaborating, suggesting that “we’ll see what that means.”
“One thing he was very strong about — he wants, if it [war] ends, he wants it to end.”
**‘We Want to End That War’**
According to Trump, Russia, Ukraine, and the US are “on the way to getting peace.” He concluded, “I think President Putin wants peace and President Zelensky wants peace, and I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed.”
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
Here are the key takeaways from Trump's comments regarding his discussions with Putin and the future of Ukraine:
**Saudi Arabia as a Potential Venue for a Historic Summit**
Trump referred to his conversation with Putin as “great” and indicated that he later had productive talks with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. He suggested that an in-person meeting with Putin could take place, mentioning, “The first time we’ll meet in Saudi Arabia, see if we can get something done… We know the Crown Prince [Mohammed bin Salman], and I think it’d be a very good place to meet.”
While Trump did not provide a specific date for the summit, he mentioned it could occur in the “not too distant future.” He also mentioned the possibility of mutual visits, stating, “In fact, we expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there.”
Trump indicated that Zelensky would “probably” not attend the potential Saudi summit and remarked that he “[hasn’t] committed to go to Ukraine.”
**No NATO Membership for Kiev**
Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine joining NATO, saying he does not find it “practical” and echoed comments from his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. He recalled that NATO membership for Ukraine has long been a red line for Russia, stating, “I think long before President Putin, they said there’s no way they’d allow that. This has been going on for many, many years. They’ve been saying that for a long time, that Ukraine cannot go into NATO. And I’m okay with that.”
**Pre-2014 Borders 'Unlikely'**
When discussing Ukraine's chances of regaining lost territory to Russia, Trump stated that it seems “unlikely,” adding, “They took a lot of land, and they fought for that land, and they lost a lot of soldiers.” However, he asserted that some of the territory currently controlled by Russia might return, claiming “some of it will come back.”
Since 2014, Crimea has been under Russian control following a vote after the Western-backed coup in Kiev, with Ukraine continuing to claim it as part of its territory. Areas like Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye followed Crimea in voting to join Russia in late 2022.
**Elections for Zelensky**
Trump responded to claims that he is “freezing out” Zelensky from the peace process, indicating that the Ukrainian leader, whose presidential term ends in May 2024 and is regarded as “illegitimate” by Russia, must hold an election eventually. He acknowledged Zelensky's demand for “guarantees of security” but refrained from elaborating, suggesting that “we’ll see what that means.”
“One thing he was very strong about — he wants, if it [war] ends, he wants it to end.”
**‘We Want to End That War’**
According to Trump, Russia, Ukraine, and the US are “on the way to getting peace.” He concluded, “I think President Putin wants peace and President Zelensky wants peace, and I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed.”
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
