Trump says open to idea to meet with Putin, Zelensky if necessary

WASHINGTON. May 28 (Interfax) - U.S. President Donald Trump has said he was prepared to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky if this could help settle the Ukraine conflict.

"I will if it's necessary," Trump said at the White House on Wednesday, when asked whether he might meet Putin and Zelensky.

Trump said that he would find out in about two weeks whether Russia is actually willing to settle the Ukraine conflict.

"I'll let you know in about two weeks, within two weeks. We are going to find out very soon," he said at the White House in response to a question about whether Russia, in Trump's view, wants to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

Trump said he did not think it necessary to clarify at this time what he meant when he said the other day that Russia was "playing with fire."

Trump also said his special envoy Steve Witkoff is "doing a phenomenal job" to resolve the issue.

However, Trump said that "no one can" say how events will unfold until the document with the agreements is signed.

The United States is not imposing sanctions on Russia yet, because such measures could hinder a speedy resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, Trump said.

"Only the fact that I think that I'm close to getting a deal, and I don't want to screw it up by doing that," Trump told reporters at the White House, answering a question why he is not imposing sanctions on Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that Russia was ready to present its memorandum with the terms of conflict settlement to Ukrainian negotiators and discuss it with them during direct talks in Istanbul on June 2.