URGENT UPDATE: The Kremlin has just confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in the coming days, signaling a critical moment in U.S.-Russia relations. The exact date and location of the meeting are still under wraps, but the urgency of this development cannot be overstated.
Putin’s adviser, Yuri Ushakov, announced this morning that “work on the summit has now begun,” highlighting the swift movement towards a dialogue. This comes as Trump faces a Friday deadline to secure peace initiatives regarding Ukraine, or risk imposing severe sanctions on Russia.
Ushakov noted that while discussions about a trilateral meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were raised by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, the initial meeting will solely focus on Trump and Putin. “The venue of the meeting has been agreed, and the Kremlin will provide further details later,” Ushakov stated.
Earlier this week, Witkoff met with Putin, leading to Trump’s assertion on social media that the discussions were “highly productive.” Trump expressed optimism, stating, “Great progress was made! Afterwards, I updated some of our European Allies. Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.”
This meeting is especially pivotal as Trump previously indicated he would impose additional economic measures against Russia, including secondary sanctions targeting major buyers of Russian fossil fuels, particularly India and China, unless a ceasefire is reached by August 8, 2023.
The stakes are exceptionally high, as this encounter between the leaders is poised to shape future diplomatic relations and could impact the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the Kremlin and the White House for further announcements.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on this urgent diplomatic meeting.
