Trump: Why might I sit with Putin and Zelensky in the same room?

In a surprising statement before his departure on a state visit to Britain, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed last night that he might have to sit in the same room with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during upcoming negotiations, due to the intense tension and mutual hatred between the two sides.

Trump told reporters: "These two people _Zelensky and Putin_ hate each other. It seems that I will have to sit with them in the same room because they cannot sit together... there is a lot of hatred between them."

He added, referring to the necessity of resolving the conflict, that the Ukrainian president needs to "make a deal".

This comes amid Zelensky's refusal to meet Putin in Moscow, after the Kremlin conditioned the meeting to be held there, which Zelensky completely rejected.

In contrast, Zelensky has repeatedly announced his readiness to meet Putin, while the Kremlin believes that preliminary preparations are needed before any direct meeting.

It is known that Russian officials question the legitimacy of Zelensky, citing the lack of presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine since the outbreak of the war in 2022.

Trump had met with Putin in mid-August last year in Alaska, describing that summit as very positive, but he recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the stalled efforts to stop the war and the refusal of both sides to hold a direct meeting, hinting at imposing new sanctions on Russia.

This statement comes at a time when tensions between Russia and Ukraine are escalating, amid international anticipation for the possibility of a breakthrough in the peace process, which may require active U.S. mediation that includes being in the same room with both conflicting parties despite their deep disagreements.