Ankara: US President Donald Trump will hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday during the NATO summit in Turkey, the White House said.
He will travel to Ankara on Monday evening for the two-day summit and is expected to hold a press conference before returning to Washington.
The meeting with Zelensky comes amid intensified efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine. A senior US official said the talks will focus on “how we can end the war,” adding that Trump is also expected to follow up with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump and Zelensky last met at the G7 summit in France in June and spoke by phone on July 4.
Zelensky also discussed frontline conditions and diplomacy in a post on X, saying there is “a real prospect” to end the war. Trump also held a 1 hour 25 minute “highly constructive” call with Putin on Saturday, according to Russian officials.
Trump has recently faced tensions with Zelensky, including a February 2025 Oval Office exchange. Meanwhile, Russia’s recent strikes on Kyiv reportedly killed 21 people.
Separately, Trump’s meeting with al-Sharaa follows his comments suggesting Syria could play a role in Lebanon amid the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Al-Sharaa has denied any military intent, favouring economic cooperation.
Trump has previously praised him despite his past links as a former al Qaeda commander, following Assad’s ouster and exile to Moscow.
