Moscow: The United States is preparing for a possible high-stakes meeting between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, marking a potential turning point in diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the prolonged war in Ukraine. A senior White House official confirmed Trump’s willingness to engage directly with Putin following a series of behind-the-scenes negotiations led by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The development comes after Witkoff held a three-hour meeting in Moscow with the Russian leader on August 6, describing the talks as productive. While Trump echoed that progress had been made, he stopped short of declaring any breakthrough. Officials close to the matter suggest that if positive momentum continues, a trilateral summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy could follow.
Zelenskiy has indicated openness to participating in a trilateral meeting but has cautioned that any agreement must ensure Ukraine’s independence and security. He acknowledged that Moscow appeared more open to a ceasefire but warned that there could be hidden agendas behind such flexibility.
In parallel, Trump has issued a firm deadline to Russia—Friday, August 8—to accept a ceasefire proposal. Failure to comply will lead to the implementation of sweeping secondary sanctions on countries continuing to trade with Russia, notably targeting Chinese and Indian oil imports. A 25 percent tariff on Indian goods has already been imposed as part of this pressure campaign.
Despite these moves, Kremlin sources indicate that Putin remains committed to his territorial goals in Ukraine, specifically the full control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Analysts believe Moscow is using diplomatic engagement to stall while advancing military objectives.
The question of where the Trump-Putin meeting could take place remains unresolved. Due to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Putin, most countries are legally unable to host him. As a result, alternative venues such as Turkey, Hungary, or Saudi Arabia are being considered.
Strategic observers note that Trump’s hands-on approach represents a shift from traditional diplomatic channels, favoring personal negotiation to push for results. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy remains cautious but hopeful that international mediation could ease hostilities, provided Ukrainian sovereignty is respected.
The world now watches closely as diplomatic tension builds toward the approaching deadline. The next few days are expected to be critical in determining whether real progress toward peace can be made or whether the standoff will deepen further, drawing more global actors into the crisis.