US President Donald Trump said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not need to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to meet with him. The American leader made the statement during a conversation with reporters, RBC-Ukraine reports.

Trump was asked if it was true that Putin allegedly needed to meet with Zelensky before meeting him."No," the US president replied curtly.

Trump and Putin are set to meet for the first time next week to discuss how to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Both leaders have said the timing for such a summit is now right, although a date and location have not yet been confirmed.

Ukraine is ready to consider a ceasefire along the current front line if it helps end the war, The Telegraph reports. At the same time, this is possible only on the condition that international recognition of Russian control over the occupied territories is not allowed.

"This is related to the fact that the country's Constitution does not allow the president or parliament to unilaterally change the country's territorial composition or accept a violation of its territorial integrity," the publication writes.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump briefed European partners, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, about a meeting between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin.

Putin and Witkoff met in the Kremlin for about three hours, with Moscow calling the talks"useful and constructive," Russian state news agency TASS reported.

"Everyone agrees that this war must end, and we will work to achieve that in the coming days and weeks," he added.