Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Brink of Meeting as Ukraine Crisis Intensifies

A potential encounter between President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could occur as early as the coming week, according to a senior Kremlin advisor who spoke on Thursday. The looming deadline for Moscow to demonstrate progress in ceasing its conflict in Ukraine adds urgency to these discussions.

Preliminary arrangements for the meeting are already underway, though it remains uncertain how long they will take before the encounter takes place next week, as indicated by Kremlin advisor Yury Ushakov, as reported by Russian state media RIA Novosti.

Should the meeting transpire, it would mark the first such gathering between the leaders of the two nations since 2021, when Putin met with former President Joe Biden in Geneva, Switzerland. Russia initiated its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

On Wednesday, Trump expressed optimism that a meeting between the two leaders could take place “very soon” to discuss potential resolutions for the conflict in Ukraine, following special envoy Steve Wikoff’s encounter with Putin.

Ushakov, a former Russian ambassador to Washington, did not disclose the location of the proposed meeting but confirmed that the venue has been agreed upon and will be announced later, according to RIA.

However, Ushakov downplayed the likelihood of trilateral negotiations involving Putin, Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a proposal put forth by Wikoff, citing Moscow’s lack of response to the suggestion.

Zelensky stated Thursday that various potential formats for leader-level meetings aimed at achieving peace were discussed, including “two bilateral (meetings) and one trilateral.”

“Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same bold approach from the Russian side. It’s time we ended the war,” Zelensky posted on social media.

Wikoff and Putin convened in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss an end to Russia’s hostilities, although Trump later stated that no breakthrough had been achieved between the two parties. He also expressed caution regarding the timeline for a settlement, citing past disappointments.

The meeting, which saw Wikoff visit Russia for the fifth time this year, ensued after a frustrated Trump set a deadline for Moscow, expiring on Friday, requiring agreement on a ceasefire or facing stringent secondary sanctions against countries importing Russian oil, subject to a 100% tariff.

Just hours following the meeting, the US leader imposed an additional 25% tariff on India as retribution for its imports of Russian oil.

Since taking office in January, Trump has been endeavoring to negotiate a peace accord between Russia and Ukraine, initially claiming he could resolve the conflict within 24 hours.

Over the subsequent months, there has been minimal progress, with Russia insisting on peace while simultaneously escalating its assaults on Ukraine. Critics argue that Putin’s recent actions are aimed at stalling negotiations and allowing his troops to gain additional ground in Ukraine.

Trump, however, has consistently expressed growing exasperation over Putin’s tendency to say one thing but act differently.

“We had a deal done four times, and then you go home, and you see (that Russia) just attacked a nursing home or something in Kyiv. So what was that all about?” Trump said during an interview with the BBC last month.

Zelensky, who spoke with Trump following Wednesday’s encounter between Putin and Wikoff, stated Wednesday that “it appears that Russia is now more inclined toward (a) ceasefire.”

“The pressure on Russia is working. But the key is ensuring they do not deceive us in the details—neither us nor the United States,” Zelensky said during his nightly address to the nation.