A potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could take place as early as next week, a White House official revealed Wednesday. The announcement comes as the U.S. prepares to impose secondary sanctions on Friday in an effort to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. If the meeting proceeds, it would mark the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021—eight months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to The New York Times, Trump informed European leaders during a call Wednesday that he plans to meet Putin and later pursue a trilateral discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the possibility, stating, “The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelenskiy.” The development follows a three-hour meeting between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Trump described as achieving “great progress.”
Despite the diplomatic push, the U.S. remains firm on imposing secondary sanctions this Friday on countries doing business with Russia. Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s stalled progress toward peace and has threatened heavy tariffs on nations purchasing Russian exports, including oil. Meanwhile, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov called the talks with Witkoff “useful and constructive,” noting discussions on potential U.S.-Russia strategic cooperation but providing no further details.
Zelenskiy, in his nightly address, suggested that international pressure may be influencing Moscow’s stance, stating, “It seems that Russia is now more inclined to a ceasefire.” However, he emphasized Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to defending its sovereignty, adding that he had discussed Witkoff’s Moscow visit with Trump and European leaders. As the Friday sanctions deadline looms, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that while progress had been made, “There’s still many impediments to overcome.” The world now watches to see if high-stakes diplomacy can bring an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict in decades.