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United States President Donald Trump reiterated Friday that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attack NATO, despite Germany this week blaming Russia for an attempted drone attack on an airport.
“I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin's not looking to attack NATO territory,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked by an AFP reporter about the German allegation.
On Tuesday, Germany officially blamed Russia for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport near Ukrainian cargo planes and announced extensive sanctions against Moscow.
The measures include closing the Russian Consulate General in Bonn by Sept. 18, ending a 2011 German-Russian agreement on cultural centers and forcing the closure of the Russian House in Berlin.
Germany also ordered Russian diplomatic staff and their families to leave the country as soon as possible.
Trump also said Friday that he was sending envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Kyiv with a proposal to end the four-year-old Ukraine war.
“They're bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” Trump told reporters.
“We sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done, and there may be a good chance that we'll do it,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, would visit Kyiv on Sunday after visiting Moscow.
In an evening video address, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received details on Witkoff and Kushner’s schedule from the American side and that Kyiv was preparing for their visit.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not launch strikes during Witkoff and Kushner’s visit to Russia and called on Moscow to take reciprocal steps when the envoys arrive in Ukraine.
“Our goal is the most constructive, meaningful visit and negotiations with the American side,” Zelenskyy said.
“We need to look for real options to bring this war to an end. We'll see what proposals Steve and Jared have and what Moscow will say to them,” he added.
Earlier Friday, Axios and Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing sources, that the two U.S. envoys would visit Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend.
Witkoff and Kushner have never visited Kyiv, while both have made several trips to Moscow since U.S.-mediated talks began.
Their latest visit took place on Jan. 22, when they met Putin at the Kremlin.
Washington has not officially commented on Zelenskyy’s remarks, while Russian authorities have not yet confirmed a visit by the U.S. envoys to Moscow.
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