Trump says there will be 'reasonable chance' to end Ukraine conflict if he manages to arrange his meeting with Putin, Zelensky

WASHINGTON. Aug 18 (Interfax) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that if a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky were arranged, the parties would have a favorable chance to end the Ukraine crisis.

"I think if everything works out well today, we'll have a trilat, and I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that," he said at the White House during a meeting with Zelensky.

If the trilateral meeting does not take place, hostilities would continue, Trump said.

He said he also hopes that the negotiations in Washington on August 18 will be successful.

At the same time, he said that the U.S. does not intend to stop supporting Ukraine in connection with the current negotiations. Washington would like to provide Kiev with reliable security guarantees and protection, he said.

For his part, Zelensky declared his readiness to take part in trilateral negotiations.

"We are ready for trilateral as president said," he said.

On August 16, Axios, citing sources, reported that Trump would like to hold a trilateral meeting on the Ukrainian settlement between the U.S., Russia and Ukraine as early as August 22.