President Donald Trump is preparing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a White House official confirmed on August 7, 2025, according to AP News. This summit, if it proceeds, will mark the first face-to-face discussion between a U.S. and Russian president since June 2021, when then-President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva. The announcement follows a Wednesday meeting in Moscow between Putin and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, aimed at advancing peace negotiations.
Trump expressed optimism about the potential talks, stating, “There’s a good chance there will be a meeting very soon” with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, per AP News. The U.S. has set a Friday deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face new sanctions and tariffs on its energy exports. The diplomatic push comes amid heightened tensions, with Trump recently imposing a 25% tariff on Indian imports due to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, signaling broader economic pressure on nations supporting Russia’s economy, per Reuters.
The Kremlin confirmed the planned summit on Thursday, with Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, noting, “The American side has suggested, and we have agreed in principle, to hold a high-level bilateral meeting, that is, a meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump,” as reported by The New York Times. While the exact date and location remain undisclosed, Ushakov indicated that preparations are underway but require time due to the meeting’s significance. Putin suggested the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue, per BBC News.
Key details of the planned summit include:
- Historic Meeting: First U.S.-Russia presidential talks since 2021, before Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.
- Ceasefire Push: Aligns with Trump’s Friday deadline for Russia to halt hostilities or face sanctions.
- Trilateral Proposal: Trump aims to follow up with a meeting including Zelenskyy, though Russia has not committed.
Zelenskyy signaled openness to a summit, stating, “It seems that Russia is now more committed to a cease-fire. The pressure on them is working,” in his nightly address, per The New York Times. However, he emphasized that Ukraine and Europe must be involved in any negotiations, posting on X, “The war is happening in Europe, and Ukraine is an integral part of Europe we are already in negotiations on EU accession,” per ABC News. The talks follow Witkoff’s Moscow visit, which Trump described as achieving “great progress” but not a breakthrough, per Reuters. As the deadline looms, the international community watches closely for signs of a resolution to Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Sources: AP News, The New York Times, Reuters, BBC News, ABC News
