Putin Hopes to Meet Trump as Ukraine Peace Deadline Approaches

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that he may meet U.S. President Donald Trump next week, potentially in the United Arab Emirates. The announcement comes just before a White House deadline for Russia to show meaningful progress toward ending its three-year war with Ukraine.

According to Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov, a summit venue has been decided “in principle.” While the White House suggested including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the talks, Putin rejected that idea.

“We propose to focus on preparing a bilateral meeting with Trump,” Ushakov said. “It’s most important that the meeting be successful and productive.”

Putin shared the news after meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He emphasized that both the U.S. and Russia expressed mutual interest in holding the summit.

Unclear Impact on U.S. Deadline

The White House has not commented on the proposed summit. Trump’s administration had previously set a deadline for Russia to halt hostilities or face expanded economic sanctions. It’s still unknown whether the summit would affect that deadline.

Putin stated he wasn’t opposed to eventually including Zelenskyy but claimed that “certain conditions” must be met. Meanwhile, Kremlin-linked officials like Kirill Dmitriev hope the summit will also discuss joint investments in rare earth elements and other economic areas.

High Stakes Amid Escalation

If confirmed, the summit would mark the first U.S.-Russia meeting since 2021. It would also represent Trump’s most significant move yet to resolve the conflict. However, past negotiations have failed, and Russia has offered no major concessions to date.

The war has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians and tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides. Russia continues advancing along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

Despite months of U.S. diplomacy, there has been little progress in stopping the war. Western leaders accuse Putin of delaying negotiations to gain more ground militarily.

Zelenskyy Calls for European Involvement

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced Thursday that he’s contacting European leaders to discuss the next steps. He insists Ukraine and its European allies must be included in peace talks.

“Ukraine is not afraid of meetings,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram. “We expect the same bold approach from Russia. It is time to end the war.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that any long-term peace deal must include guarantees for Ukraine’s protection and European involvement. He also reported that Russian airstrikes, including one in Dnipro that killed four civilians, continue despite Trump’s public pressure on Moscow.

Gallup Poll: Ukrainians Want Peace Talks

A new Gallup poll shows that most Ukrainians now favor a negotiated settlement. In a significant shift from 2022, only one in four respondents want to continue fighting until full victory.

About 70% of Ukrainians surveyed said they support seeking a peace deal “as soon as possible.” Only one-quarter believe the war will end within a year.

Gallup excluded Russian-occupied regions from the survey due to access limitations, but the findings reflect a growing public desire for diplomacy.

Uncertain Future

Trump’s relationship with Putin has evolved. While once more conciliatory, Trump recently expressed frustration with the Russian leader’s stance and warned of harsher sanctions.

Still, a Putin-Trump summit would mark a turning point. Whether it brings an end to the war or simply restarts stalled diplomacy remains to be seen.

SOURCE: ABC News