Trump Says Likely to Meet Putin ‘Very Soon’

Former US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he may meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon,” following what he described as a highly productive round of talks in Moscow between his special envoy and the Russian leadership.

The potential summit was discussed during a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which, according to a senior Kyiv official, also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the heads of government from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Finland.

“There’s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon,” Trump told reporters at the White House, when questioned about a possible meeting with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.

He did not disclose where a meeting with Putin might take place. Should it go ahead, it would mark the first official summit between US and Russian leadership since President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021.

Reports from The New York Times and CNN, citing sources familiar with the plans, suggest Trump could meet with Putin as early as next week, followed by a proposed trilateral summit including Zelensky.

Diplomatic Developments

Earlier that day, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met with top Russian officials in Moscow for talks that the Kremlin later characterised as “productive.” The visit came as Trump’s self-imposed deadline to impose further sanctions on Russia approaches.

“Great progress was made!” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
“Everyone agrees this war must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.”

Shortly afterwards, however, a senior US official confirmed that “secondary sanctions” are still expected to be enacted within two days.

Stakeholder Positions and Statements

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Witkoff returned with a ceasefire proposal from the Russian side. However, he emphasised caution:

“There’s still a lot of work ahead. A meeting could be weeks away—maybe more.”

Peace Talks and Escalation

Three prior rounds of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul have failed to yield a ceasefire, with both parties remaining deeply entrenched in their respective demands. In the meantime, Russia has escalated drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian territory to unprecedented levels and has intensified its ground campaign.

According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s aide, Witkoff’s three-hour meeting in Moscow involved the exchange of “signals” regarding each side’s positions—though no further details were provided.

Sanctions and Trade Penalties

Trump has expressed increasing dissatisfaction with Putin’s ongoing military aggression, despite prior alignment. Although the White House has not detailed the exact measures to be taken, Trump indicated that additional “secondary sanctions” are imminent. These may target Russia’s key trade partners—potentially including China.

Additionally, Trump ordered an increase in tariffs on Indian goods earlier in the day, in response to New Delhi’s continued importation of Russian oil.

The Kremlin condemned these moves, labelling the threats to penalise Russia’s trading partners as “illegitimate”.

War Impact and Strategic Demands

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia’s campaign has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, widespread infrastructure destruction, and the displacement of millions.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine surrender additional territory and abandon its ties with the United States and the European Union as conditions for peace. Ukraine, conversely, continues to call for an immediate ceasefire, and President Zelensky recently urged Western allies to push for “regime change” in Moscow.

Nuclear Posturing and Military Tension

Tensions between Washington and Moscow remain high, particularly over nuclear capabilities. Trump revealed he had ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to the region following an online exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

In response, Moscow announced the end of a self-imposed moratorium on intermediate-range nuclear missiles, threatening deployments in retaliation to what it alleged were similar moves by the US near Russian borders.

Civilian Casualties

Amid the broader geopolitical manoeuvring, the human toll of the conflict continues to rise. Ukrainian emergency services reported on Wednesday that Russian shelling of a holiday camp in the Zaporizhzhia region killed at least two civilians and wounded twelve others.

Trump’s announcement of a possible meeting with Putin underscores the volatile and rapidly shifting dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war. Whether this high-level diplomacy will yield a meaningful breakthrough remains uncertain, as both sides dig in and Western leaders continue to navigate a precarious balance between pressure and negotiation.