President Trump sets conditions for meeting President Putin
President Donald Trump said he would meet with President Vladimir Putin if he understood Ukraine.
According to RIA Novosti, US President Donald Trump said he would meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin only when he understood the conclusion of the agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine.
"We have to make sure we reach an agreement. I'm not going to waste my time. I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin," President Trump said on October 25 (Washington time), when answering a question about the conditions under which he would agree to resume the meeting with his Russian counterpart.
On October 25, the Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, the Russian President's special envoy for international economic cooperation, in an interview with the US press, expressed confidence that negotiations between the two Russian and US leaders will take place, but "may take longer".
Mr. Dmitriev noted that Moscow is interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible. At the same time, he stressed that this can only take into account Russia's interests.
The Russian President's special envoy also stressed that the agreement includes a number of elements on Ukraine's territory, neutrality and security guarantees.
Previously, President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a meeting with the Russian leader in Budapest on October 23, but he said it would be held in the future.
However, President Trump said the US had implemented "very significant" sanctions against Russia, and "very strong". The US leader believes the sanctions will be effective.
"Mr. Putin said they wouldn't have much impact. I don't know, I don't think he's right," President Trump said.
The US has imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft over the situation around Ukraine.
