Putin-Trump Meeting Confirmed, Official Announcement Imminent: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet US President Donald Trump soon, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has confirmed, signaling a significant step in the evolving relations between Moscow and Washington. Ushakov, a senior foreign affairs adviser and former ambassador to the US, told Russian media on Thursday that preparations for the meeting are underway, with details regarding the date and venue to be announced shortly.

This will be the first encounter between Putin and Trump since the latter began his second term in office earlier this year. The announcement comes amid heightened diplomatic activity, including recent discussions between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian president. Trump described Witkoff’s talks with Putin as “highly productive” and emphasized the shared goal of ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking on the summit ahead, Ushakov highlighted the constructive nature of the recent Witkoff-Putin dialogue, which focused on the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, and hinted at a potential thaw in bilateral ties. He noted that discussions also touched upon “prospects for possible development of strategic cooperation between the US and Russia.”

The timing is notable, coinciding with heightened pressure from the US and its allies on Moscow to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine. The White House is reportedly preparing secondary sanctions, potentially targeting additional countries, including China, aiming to curtail support to Russia amid the conflict.

With tensions still high but diplomatic overtures emerging, the Putin-Trump meeting is poised to be a critical juncture with implications for international relations and efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis.