
US President Donald Trump said today that the hatred between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is "unimaginable" and that they "barely speak to each other."
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump commented on the possibility of a meeting or summit between the leaders of the two warring countries, saying:
"Whether you call it a summit or just a meeting, it doesn't matter, but I'll probably have to convince them, because they hate each other so much they can barely talk."
He stressed that the lack of communication between Putin and Zelensky is one of the main obstacles to progress towards peace in the region.
"They are not able to talk to each other," Trump said, implying that his role as mediator may be necessary to break the diplomatic deadlock.
Trump's statements come at a time when efforts for a diplomatic solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict continue to fail, while fighting in eastern Ukraine continues unabated.