WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Wednesday during the NATO summit in Turkey, as Washington seeks to address two of the world’s most pressing security challenges.
The White House said the discussions will take place on the sidelines of the alliance gathering in Ankara, where Trump is also expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday before concluding the summit with a news conference on Wednesday.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the meetings while previewing Trump’s schedule for the summit.
Ukraine seeks renewed U.S. focus on the war
Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy comes as Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine enters its fifth year and Kyiv continues efforts to keep U.S. attention focused on the conflict.
The meeting follows separate telephone conversations Trump held on Saturday with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4.
In a statement posted on X after speaking with Trump, Zelenskyy said the leaders discussed conditions along the front lines, where military analysts have said Russia’s recent advances have slowed. Ukraine has meanwhile intensified long-range attacks inside Russian territory, demonstrating an expanded ability to strike targets deeper within Russia.
Zelenskyy said there is “a real prospect of ending this war” and indicated the conversation would continue during the NATO summit.
Trump maintains push for negotiated settlement
According to Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s foreign affairs adviser, Putin told Trump during their phone call that the U.S. president reaffirmed his willingness to help secure a rapid end to hostilities and pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s approach, said Trump believes there is an urgent need to end the war and intends to discuss possible pathways toward a settlement with Zelenskyy.
The official added that Trump is expected to follow up with Putin after his meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Ankara.
Syria meeting highlights broader regional diplomacy
Trump is also expected to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, although U.S. officials have not disclosed the objectives of those talks.
The meeting comes as Trump has increasingly voiced frustration over Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has complicated wider regional diplomacy linked to the conflict involving Iran.
In recent public remarks, Trump has suggested that Syria should instead confront Hezbollah, comments that surprised many observers across the Middle East.
Al-Sharaa has rejected that idea, saying Syria has no intention of entering such a conflict. He has also maintained that Trump’s earlier remarks were misunderstood, even as the U.S. president has continued to raise the issue publicly.
NATO summit expected to address multiple security crises
While the NATO summit is expected to focus primarily on collective defense, allied military preparedness and transatlantic security, the scheduled meetings underscore the broad range of international crises facing the United States and its allies.
The discussions with Zelenskyy are likely to center on prospects for ending the war in Ukraine, while Trump’s talks with al-Sharaa may provide further insight into Washington’s evolving approach toward Syria and wider Middle East security.
The outcomes of the bilateral meetings could shape future U.S. diplomatic engagement on both fronts as NATO leaders seek to maintain unity amid continuing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
Article Topics: NATO Summit | Donald Trump | Volodymyr Zelenskyy | Ahmad al-Sharaa | Ukraine War | Syria | Turkey | International Diplomacy
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
