But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we BELIEVE that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the LORD Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the Trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Trump says Putin doesn’t have to meet with Zelensky ahead of bilateral meeting

Trump told reporters on Thursday that Putin would no longer need to meet with Zelensky before he would meet with the Russian leader as he attempts to negotiate a ceasefire deal between the warring nations.

“No, he doesn’t [have to meet with Zelensky],” the president said when asked again about Putin. “They would like to meet with me, and I’ll do whatever I can to stop the killing.”

Trump also claimed it was up to Putin whether a Friday deadline for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would pan out.

“It’s going to be up to him,” said Trump. “We’re going to see what he has to say. It’s going to be up to him. Very disappointed.”

Additional sanctions against Russia are expected to begin on Friday if a deal to end the three-year war is not reached.

The summit between Trump and Putin could occur as soon as next week, possibly in the United Arab Emirates, after special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow this week.

TRUMP TO MEET WITH PUTIN AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not confirm a concrete date for a meeting, and neither did Trump on Thursday.

“My Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a highly productive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the meeting. “Great progress was made! Afterwards, I updated some of our European Allies. Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”