Trump’s team warns against talks with Putin before ceasefire deal

NBC reported the information, citing official sources.

According to two administration officials, a conversation between Trump and Putin was not planned as of today. Officials say Trump’s inner circle urged him not to speak with Putin until he committed to a full ceasefire.

Administration representatives warned that Trump might suddenly decide he wants to talk to Putin. However, they said he had been informed that a phone call would not be a good idea unless Putin had conveyed to the White House his agreement to a full ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev met with White House officials and Republican lawmakers at the White House, according to three American officials. It is unclear if Trump attended the meeting.

Dmitriev met with Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma at Trump’s request. The group discussed the terms of a ceasefire in Ukraine and Putin’s demands for a ceasefire, officials said.

• On March 30, Donald Trump was “very angry” and “pissed off” when Russian leader Vladimir Putin questioned the authority of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the U.S. president, such statements are “not going in the right location.”
• On March 31, Trump also emphasized that he was not pleased with the statements of the leaders of Ukraine and Russia.
• Donald Trump then announced his upcoming trips to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which will take place soon.
• On April 1, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump is disappointed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
• On the same day, Fox News reported that U.S. President Donald Trump is disappointed with the actions of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and believes that he is stalling for time in negotiating a full ceasefire in Ukraine.