President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Wednesday during the NATO summit in Turkey, the White House announced. The White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the meetings while previewing the summit in Ankara, where Trump also plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump's discussions with Zelenskyy come as the conflict in Ukraine enters its fifth year. Both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Trump via phone on Saturday, reportedly to congratulate him on the Fourth of July. Zelenskyy stated after his call that he and Trump discussed the front lines of the war and that there is "a real prospect of ending this war," with conversations to continue in Ankara.
A senior U.S. official indicated that Trump feels an urgency to conclude the war and plans to discuss strategies with Zelenskyy, with a follow-up conversation expected with Putin after the meeting. The White House has not released specific details regarding the objectives for Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa.
Trump has previously suggested that Syria should confront Hezbollah, a stance that has drawn attention in the region amid ongoing conflicts. Al-Sharaa, who has led an Islamic insurgent group, has reportedly downplayed the significance of Trump's comments.