REUTERS

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is not averse to joining talks with Germany, France, Ukraine, and Russia aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Known as the Normandy format, Trump told Voice of America on September 9 in Washington that he would join the talks if the participants needed him, RFE/RL reports.

"I believe the fact that the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine took place…is a very big step, and a very positive step. If they need me to join, I would join [the Normandy format]," Trump said.

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As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a Kyiv meeting with U.S. National-Security Adviser John Bolton Aug 28 said Ukraine would welcome U.S. accession to the Normandy format.

France, Germany, and Ukraine have called for talks to take place by the end of this month. Russia has said it is ready to meet once "concrete steps" are taken before the meeting.

The last round of Normandy talks took place in 2016.