Trump May Meet Putin Zelenskiy as Russia Faces Sanctions Deadline
Trump Eyes Historic Putin-Zelenskiy Talks as Deadline Looms for Russia
In what could be a dramatic diplomatic development, former U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled the possibility of meeting face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin and later holding a three-way meeting that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
If it happens, it would mark the first direct meeting between a sitting U.S. president and Putin since Joe Biden’s summit with the Russian leader in Geneva back in June 2021—just months before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Trump reportedly shared his intentions during a call with European leaders on Wednesday, according to The New York Times, saying there’s “a good chance” of a meeting happening soon.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the development, stating that Russia had shown interest in a meeting with Trump, and that the former president is open to sitting down with both Putin and Zelenskiy.
The news follows a high-level meeting between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday. Trump praised the discussions as having achieved “great progress,” though he stopped short of calling it a breakthrough. A Kremlin aide described the talks as “useful and constructive.”
These diplomatic moves are unfolding just two days before a key deadline set by Trump for Russia to make serious commitments toward peace in Ukraine—or face new sanctions. Trump has expressed growing frustration with Moscow’s unwillingness to engage in meaningful peace talks and has threatened harsh economic penalties, including steep tariffs on nations that continue buying Russian exports like oil.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump hinted that more tariffs could be on the way—possibly targeting China, following similar measures imposed on India for its Russian oil purchases.
“We did it with India. We’re doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China,” he said.
A senior White House official said the meeting between Witkoff and Putin went well, and that Moscow appears open to further engagement. Still, Trump’s threatened secondary sanctions on countries trading with Russia are expected to take effect on Friday.
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov noted that both sides had exchanged “signals” on Ukraine and explored options for strategic cooperation between Washington and Moscow. He declined to share more until Trump receives a full briefing from Witkoff.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy responded cautiously to the developments, saying in his nightly address that pressure on Moscow seems to be working, but warned against trusting Russia blindly.
“The pressure on them works. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details—neither us nor the U.S.,” Zelenskiy said.
Trump later updated U.S. allies on the situation. A German government spokesperson confirmed that Trump briefed Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other European leaders on the status of talks during a call.
As the clock ticks toward Trump’s sanctions deadline, all eyes are on what could become a pivotal moment in the long-running war in Ukraine.
Mutib Khalid is a skilled content writer and digital marketer with a knack for crafting compelling narratives and optimizing digital strategies. Excel in creating engaging content that drives results and enhances online presence. Passionate about blending creativity with data-driven approaches, Mutib Khalid helps brands connect with their audience and achieve their goals.
