The BRICS TimesPresident Trump recently held separate discussions with Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not commit to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by Monday, it could indicate that he has once again “played” US President Donald Trump.
Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday, Macron remarked, “If that doesn’t happen by Monday, the deadline set by President Trump, it means that once again President Putin played President Trump.”
Earlier, the White House expressed optimism that Putin would agree to meet Zelensky, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials have cast doubt on the possibility. German Chancellor Merz also suggested this week that the meeting is unlikely to take place.
The remarks come amid mounting US pressure, with Trump reportedly imposing a strict deadline for Putin to consent to direct talks with Zelensky. Trump has previously met both leaders separately—Putin in Alaska and Zelensky at the White House—to discuss the Ukraine war.
On Friday, Zelensky referenced Trump’s earlier comments giving Putin “a week or two” to respond to the proposed meeting, noting, “Two weeks will be on Monday. And we will remind everybody.”
Earlier the same day, Zelensky spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Russia’s recent attacks on Ukraine, as Modi arrived in China for the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
“Russia continues the war, Russia continues killing,” Zelensky said in his Saturday address to the nation. He added that Modi agreed on the need for a ceasefire and expressed hope that India would advocate this position at the summit.
In a separate social media post, Zelensky remarked that “Moscow has given no positive signal” suggesting any readiness for diplomatic efforts to end its invasion, which has now lasted over three-and-a-half years.
