In a significant diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to engage in discussions with President Donald Trump, as the deadline for Trump's 10-day peace ultimatum approaches.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed this upcoming meeting to reporters on Thursday, signaling a potential shift in the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
As reported by the Daily Caller, the proposal for this high-level meeting originated from the Russian side and was conveyed to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday. Witkoff subsequently communicated the suggestion to President Trump.
This anticipated face-to-face encounter marks the first meeting between the two leaders since 2021, when Putin met with former President Joe Biden in Geneva. While the specifics regarding the time and location of the Trump-Putin meeting remain undisclosed, the dialogue signifies a crucial moment in international relations.
Ushakov stated, "At the suggestion of the American side, an agreement was essentially reached to hold a bilateral meeting at the highest level in the coming days, that is, a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump," according to Reuters.
A White House official further indicated to the Daily Caller News Foundation that the meeting could occur as early as the beginning of next week, although no venue has been finalized. The official added, "Putin must also meet with Zelenskyy in order for this to occur."
In recent months, Russia has been resistant to advancing peace negotiations, maintaining its military operations in Ukraine. President Trump, growing increasingly frustrated with the Kremlin's reluctance, issued a stern warning on July 14, threatening "severe" sanctions and tariffs unless progress was made.
Initially, Putin was given a 50-day window to engage in meaningful dialogue, but Trump's impatience led him to shorten the deadline, which now expires on Friday. Despite these pressures, Putin has remained defiant, asserting that Russia is capable of weathering any economic repercussions from Western sanctions, likening them to those imposed during Biden's presidency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed cautious optimism regarding the potential meetings. On Thursday, he shared on X that he had discussions with officials from Germany and France about the Trump administration's negotiations with Russia.
Zelenskyy remarked, "Yesterday, various potential formats for leader-level meetings to bring peace were also discussed two bilateral and one trilateral. Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side. It is time we ended the war. Thank you to everyone who is helping."
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