A high-level bilateral summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump is scheduled for the “coming days” following an American proposal, announced Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov. “At the proposal of the American side, a high-level bilateral meeting in the coming days has been essentially agreed upon – that is, a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump,” Ushakov stated, as reported by Interfax. He added that concrete preparations with American counterparts are now underway.
Ushakov noted that during Putin’s meeting yesterday with US envoy Steve Witkoff, the possibility of a trilateral format involving the leaders of Russia, the US, and Ukraine was mentioned. However, TASS reported Ushakov as stating that “the Russian side left this option completely without comment.”
The development follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s repeated public calls for direct talks with Putin to end the war, issued after Trump’s envoy met the Russian leader in Moscow. “In Ukraine, we have repeatedly stated that finding concrete solutions can only be truly effective when leaders speak directly. It is necessary to establish the timing for such a meeting and the range of issues to be addressed,” Zelensky wrote on social media, a day after his own conversation with Trump, who claimed he could meet Putin “very soon.”
Zelensky emphasized broad diplomatic outreach “to make concrete progress on the path to peace and ensure Ukrainian independence,” detailing planned calls with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and contacts with French and Italian colleagues, alongside communications between national security advisors. He reiterated calls for European participation in any future Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed strong support following her discussion with Zelensky. “We discussed the next steps to reach a negotiated peace agreement and Ukraine’s future accession to the European Union, as well as its reconstruction,” von der Leyen stated. “Europe’s position is clear. We fully support Ukraine. We will continue to play an active role in ensuring a just and lasting peace.”
Separately, President Putin identified the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a suitable location for the potential summit with Trump. Speaking after talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Kremlin, Putin remarked, “We have many friends ready to help us organize such events. One such friend is the President of the UAE. I think we will decide, but it would be one of the suitable, entirely suitable places.” However, regarding talks with Zelensky, Putin indicated Russia remains “far from” creating the conditions for such a meeting, according to TASS.