United States President Donald Trump has indicated he may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon,” following what he described as productive diplomatic talks in Moscow. The announcement comes as the U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff, returned from meetings with Russian officials, bringing back a proposed ceasefire plan. The development follows a high-level call involving Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and European leaders including those from NATO, the UK, Germany, and Finland.
While Trump gave no details on where a summit with Putin might take place, reports from U.S. media suggest the meeting could happen as early as next week. It would mark the first formal U.S.-Russia leadership summit since 2021. Trump has also expressed interest in organizing a three-way meeting that includes both Putin and Zelensky, as international pressure builds to end the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has signaled a greater openness to negotiations, although Ukrainian officials remain cautious.
Despite talk of progress, U.S. officials remain measured. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that while a ceasefire proposal is now on the table, much remains to be discussed with Kyiv and key European allies. Meanwhile, Washington still plans to impose secondary sanctions on Russia within days, keeping diplomatic pressure on Moscow even as talks continue.
