Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to hold bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sarra on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week, according to the White House.
Focus on Ending the War in Ukraine
A senior U.S. official briefed reporters on the trip—speaking on condition of anonymity—said Trump will meet Zelenskyy on Wednesday to discuss “how we can end the war.” The official noted that the battlefield has largely stalled over the past two months, with neither side making significant gains. “The president feels a real sense of urgency to try to stop this,” the official said.
Broader Diplomatic Agenda
Trump is expected to arrive in Ankara on Tuesday. His first meeting will be with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the host of the summit. He will also meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sarra and hold a press conference, the White House confirmed.
In addition to diplomacy on Ukraine and Syria, Trump is expected to urge NATO allies to increase their defense spending during the summit—a longstanding priority for him.