President Donald Trump has announced that a meeting involving Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could be arranged soon, following discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff aboard Air Force One. Speaking to reporters after returning from campaign appearances in Texas on October 28, Trump said, “I think with Russia, we’re making a lot of progress with Russia-Ukraine,” adding that a meeting would be arranged “very soon.” He identified Putin and Zelenskyy as the expected participants but provided no confirmed date, location or format for the proposed talks. Rubio’s presence during the discussions highlights his role in the administration’s foreign policy deliberations as Washington pursues efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, neither a finalized meeting nor a breakthrough agreement was confirmed in Trump’s remarks, leaving the next steps in the diplomatic process uncertain.

Trump also addressed the ongoing conflict with Iran, saying that ending the war would depend on his decision while claiming Tehran wanted a deal but might be delaying negotiations until after the November 3 US midterm elections. “Maybe they’re waiting for the election or something, but that’s not gonna help them,” Trump said, while declining to rule out additional US military action after the vote. He asserted that Washington was in a strong position, citing damage to Iran’s military and finances, although those assessments were his own claims. Meanwhile, Rubio made a rare appearance alongside Trump at two campaign events in Texas, where the president invited him onstage and praised his popularity with the crowd. A State Department official said Rubio’s presence on the trip was intended to give him time with Trump to discuss national security matters, rather than making the journey solely a campaign appearance. Together, the discussions underscore the administration’s focus on two major foreign policy challenges, with the proposed Russia-Ukraine meeting and the next steps regarding Iran remaining unresolved.