Face-to-face Putin, Zelensky, Trump meeting 'unlikely'

Kremlin rejects talks as Ukraine hits Crimea bridge

- By Ciaran McGrath

RUSSIA has rubbished the prospect of an imminent meeting between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainian president Mr Zelensky suggested the idea last week, saying he was “ready for any format”, over three years after Putin’s invasion.

Hopes were raised by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who on Monday said Mr Trump was “open to it if it comes to that”.

But she added: “He wants both of these leaders and both sides to come to the table together.”

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has now poured cold water on the idea, telling reporters yesterday such a meeting was “unlikely in the near future”.