'It’s about actions, not trust': U.S. on possible Trump-Putin meeting

Deputy State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said this at a briefing.

He noted that the U.S. side maintains constant communication with partners in Europe and Ukraine.

The State Department spokesperson emphasized that the Trump administration’s ultimate goal is “to end this conflict, bring the parties to the negotiating table, achieve a ceasefire, and secure long-term peace.”

When asked about a potential meeting between Trump and Putin and whether the U.S. trusts the Kremlin leader, Pigott replied: “It's not a question of trust. It's a question of actions. The president explained how disappointed he was with Russia's actions, which we have seen over the past few weeks.”

According to him, Trump spoke “about the need to see actions, not just words.”

“So, it’s not a matter of trust. It’s a matter of actions and doing everything possible to promote peace and end this war,” the spokesperson stressed.

• President Donald Trump could meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as early as next week, a White House official said on Wednesday.