The high-level meeting at the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump, leaders of the European Union, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and several European heads of state has concluded, though questions remain over its concrete outcomes.
According to German daily Bild, at one point Trump interrupted the closed-door discussions to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite initially stating he would do so only after his talks with European leaders had ended.
During the meeting, cameras captured Trump speaking quietly to French President Emmanuel Macron, saying he believed Putin was ready to strike a deal.
“I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal with me, do you understand that? As crazy as it sounds,” Trump said, according to CNN.
The American president further remarked that the coming weeks will reveal whether meaningful progress has been achieved in efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
