Trump Calls Putin During Summit With Zelensky and European Leaders: Report

President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday during a summit with European leaders.

Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other heads of state in Washington, D.C. to discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The meetings took place mere days after Trump met with Putin in Alaska, where the two leaders and their aides met for nearly three hours to discuss a potential end to hostilities. On Monday, Trump hosted Zelensky at the White House in what was a far more cordial meeting than February’s sit-down, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated the Ukrainian leader. Trump also met with seven European leaders at a roundtable, where his guests flattered him in the hopes of securing continued aid to Ukraine and maintaining overall relations.

And as Axios reported, Putin was also present in a way, as Trump phoned his Russian counterpart:

President Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders were gathered in the White House, two sources familiar with the call tell Axios.

Axios noted that Trump called Zelensky after meeting with Putin on Friday. However, when he called Putin, Trump’s meetings were ongoing. Trump is reportedly hoping to arrange a summit with both leaders.

“One source said Trump discussed the trilateral summit idea in his meeting with Zelensky and the European leaders. ‘He said he wants to talk about it with Putin and that he wants to do it soon, but didn’t mention a date or location,'” Axios said.

On Monday, a hot mic caught Trump stating that Putin wants to “make a deal” with him.

“I think he wants to make a deal with me,” Trump told a meeting attendee. “I don’t understand that, as crazy as it sounds.”

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