The Kremlin confirmed Thursday that a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place “in the coming days,” following an agreement reached at the suggestion of the American side. The announcement comes as Trump has escalated economic pressure on nations continuing to trade with Russia, most recently imposing 50 percent tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil.
According to Kremlin presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the meeting is intended to address a ceasefire in Ukraine, a demand Trump has publicly pressed Putin to meet. Trump had initially issued an ultimatum for a ceasefire by Friday, but Ushakov indicated the timeframe is now more flexible. “At the suggestion of the American side, an agreement was made in principle to hold a bilateral meeting at the highest level in the coming days … a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump,” Ushakov told reporters.
The prospective meeting follows a Wednesday briefing by Trump to European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding his plans to engage directly with Putin. Trump also reportedly floated the possibility of a trilateral meeting including Zelenskyy, though no firm arrangements have been made. Zelenskyy, while acknowledging Russia’s apparent increased willingness to consider a ceasefire due to the mounting pressure, cautioned against potential deception in the details of any agreement.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow on Wednesday as the initial deadline approached. The Kremlin has stated that a venue for the Trump-Putin meeting has been “agreed upon in principle,” but has not disclosed its location.
The move toward direct talks follows a period of frustration from the Trump administration regarding Putin’s slow pace in ceasefire negotiations. Trump had previously given Putin 50 days to reach a truce agreement with Ukraine, a deadline he then shortened to August 8.
Earlier this year, Trump reportedly asked Putin to refrain from striking Kyiv until February 1, a request the Kremlin confirmed. However, Ukraine reported that Russia launched one missile and over 100 drones overnight, despite the earlier request.
Peace talks brokered by the U.S. Are scheduled to continue in Abu Dhabi this Sunday, though Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has suggested they may be delayed due to the situation in Iran. Zelenskyy has also stated that Russia is “playing games” and has no genuine intention of ending the war.
The Kremlin has not responded to Zelenskyy’s claims, and the status of the planned Trump-Putin meeting remains subject to ongoing developments.
