Russia has so far refused to agree to a face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Putin, despite several requests from Kyiv. The Kremlin hasn't ruled out summits for the two leaders but has said they could only meet in the very final stages of clinching a peace agreement.

President Trump said Tuesday it would be “better” if Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met without him first as Trump pushes the leaders to bring an end to the more than three years of war in Eastern Europe.