Related videos:
The Kremlin confirmed that a meeting has been agreed upon between Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and U.S. President, Donald Trump, in what would mark a milestone in bilateral relations and potentially impact the course of the war in Ukraine.
The summit, which could take place next week, still does not have an officially confirmed date or location, although Putin's foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov, indicated that a site has been determined "in principle," and the announcement will be made later, as revealed by the AP agency.
According to a report from the BBC, the United Arab Emirates is among the most likely venues for the meeting.
A bilateral approach that excludes Ukraine
The meeting, requested at the initiative of the United States according to Moscow, would be the first between the two leaders since Trump returned to power this year, and it comes amid escalating global tensions over the war in Ukraine.
“At the suggestion of the U.S. side, it has been agreed in principle to hold a bilateral meeting at the highest level in the coming days”, Ushakov stated at a press conference this Thursday.
Nevertheless, he ruled out any involvement of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, at this stage, despite hints from the White House about the possibility of a trilateral format to address the war.
"We propose, first of all, to focus on preparing for a bilateral meeting with Trump, and we believe it is very important that this meeting be successful and productive," the Russian official added.
At the moment, Trump has not publicly confirmed the meeting, and he only described the meeting between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Russian president as a "very productive meeting."
“My Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a very productive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Significant progress was made! Subsequently, I informed some of our European allies. We all agree that this war must come to an end, and we will work to achieve that in the coming days and weeks. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote on the Truth Social.
Trump's stance and diplomatic tensions
Trump, for his part, has reiterated in recent weeks his intention to seek a quick solution to the conflict.
"I do not consider it a great breakthrough... we have been working on this for a long time. Thousands of young people are dying... I am here to put an end to this once and for all," he declared Wednesday during a press conference in Washington, as reported by the BBC.
The president stated that upon arriving at the White House, he would end the war in just one day, something that proved to be impossible in practice.
Witkoff has met with Putin four times without making concrete progress in peace negotiations so far, being vague in his statements and only asserting that both parties exchanged "positive" signals.
A meeting without Kiev or Europe?
The bilateral focus of this summit has raised concerns in Kiev and European capitals, as a negotiation between Trump and Putin without Ukraine’s involvement could alter the diplomatic balances in the region.
President Zelensky has expressed his willingness to take part in a meeting and has requested that Europe be involved in the process.
In a message posted on the social network X, he wrote: "Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same courageous approach from the Russian side."
In the same vein, Zelensky emphasized this Thursday on Telegram that the priorities for a meeting must be clear: “The first is to stop the killings, and it is Russia that must agree to a ceasefire. The second is a format for the leaders that allows the meeting to contribute to a truly lasting peace.”
Russia refuses to yield
Despite the attempts at negotiation, the conditions imposed by Moscow remain unacceptable to Ukraine and its Western allies. Among the Kremlin's demands are:
-That Ukraine declares itself a neutral country and renounces joining NATO.
-The drastic reduction of its army.
-The recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia.
-The complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from those areas.
-The lifting of all international sanctions against Russia.
These demands have been repeatedly rejected by both Kiev and its allies, who consider any agreement that consolidates Russia's territorial military advances unacceptable.
Trump's term and the sanctions
The deadline that Trump imposed on the Kremlin to stop the attacks on Ukraine or face new sanctions expires on Friday.
In this context, the United States approved an additional military aid package to Ukraine on Tuesday worth 200 million dollars, including support for drone production.
Additionally, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 50% tariff on imports from India, in retaliation for New Delhi's ongoing purchase of Russian oil.
If it materializes, this will be the first summit between leaders of the U.S. and Russia since Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva in 2021.
Filed under: