A Trump-Putin meeting could take place as early as next week, according to a White House official. The news comes as the U.S. prepares new secondary sanctions against countries continuing business with Russia.
The meeting would mark the first face-to-face between a U.S. and Russian leader since 2021, when President Joe Biden met Vladimir Putin in Geneva. It also signals a major shift in diplomacy as the Ukraine war nears its third year.
Former President Donald Trump told reporters, “There’s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.” He also informed European leaders that he plans to meet Putin first, then possibly hold a three-way meeting including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Russia had shown interest in the meeting. She said Trump is open to meeting both Putin and Zelenskiy.
Trump’s comments followed a meeting between Russian President Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump described it as showing “great progress,” though he later said it wasn’t yet a breakthrough.
A Kremlin aide called the talks “useful and constructive,” and said both sides had exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and possible future cooperation. However, no firm details were shared.
Trump has also warned of new sanctions if Russia does not agree to a peace plan by the end of the week. He mentioned tariffs could extend to China, similar to those already imposed on India due to Russian oil purchases.
Meanwhile, President Zelenskiy said the pressure from the U.S. seems to be working. In his daily address, he warned that Russia must not use the talks to mislead Ukraine or its allies.
As discussions continue, Trump has kept European allies informed. A German official confirmed that Trump shared updates on the negotiations during a recent call with the German chancellor and other leaders.
Whether the Trump-Putin meeting leads to real progress remains to be seen, but global attention is now fixed on the outcome.
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