Trump says US may provide air support to back a Ukraine peace deal
Istanbul, where delegations for the two countries have met previously, has also been mentioned, a senior administration official said.
Hungary is one of the few European places Putin could visit without fear of arrest on International Criminal Court charges as Orban maintains close ties with the Russian leader. It was unclear whether Ukraine would accept Hungary as a venue. Neutral Switzerland also said it would be ready to host Putin for any peace talks.
'They are in the process of setting it up,' Trump told radio host Levin about a Putin and Zelensky meeting.
However, Trump cast doubt on whether he would attend: 'I think it would be better if they met without me. If necessary, I'll go.'
Trump, asked by Levin how he balanced the interests of all the parties involved, said: 'It's probably instinct more than process. I have instincts.'
Ukraine's allies held talks in the Coalition of the Willing format on Tuesday, discussing additional sanctions to crank up pressure on Russia. The grouping has also agreed planning teams will meet US counterparts in the coming days to develop security guarantees for Ukraine.
Nato military leaders were expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine, with US Gen Dan Caine, chair of the joint chiefs of staff, expected to attend virtually, officials told Reuters. Putin has said Russia will not tolerate troops from the Nato alliance in Ukraine. He has also shown no sign of backing down from demands for territory, including land not under Russia's military control, after his summit with Trump last Friday in Alaska.
Neil Melvin, a director at the International Security at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said Russia could drag out the war while trying to deflect US pressure with a protracted peace negotiation.
Melvin said Ukraine and its European allies on one side and Russia on the other were striving 'not to present themselves to Trump as the obstacle to his peace process'.
'They're all tiptoeing around Trump' to avoid any blame, he said, adding Trump's statements on security guarantees were 'so vague it's very hard to take it seriously'.
Reuters
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