Trump: Putin and Zelensky can reach deal without meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump said at an October 20 press conference that Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky do not need to be in the same room to reach an agreement. Trump stated both countries are losing many people, noting Russia is a vast nation while Ukraine is not. He said Zelensky should seek to end the war, warning of dire consequences otherwise, and claimed the U.S. and Europe have spent enormous sums and grown tired of the conflict. Trump repeated his account of a Russian general getting lost early in the invasion, described hatred between Putin and Zelensky as "enormous," and said the deal could be done without direct meetings. This follows weekend accusations between Trump and Zelensky over pressure, Patriot missile deliveries, and willingness to end the war.