Trump could meet Putin in person to discuss Russia-Ukraine war, White House says
Trump open to meeting Putin face-to-face next week
According to Fox News, President Donald Trump intends to meet in person with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. It also appears this meeting could happen as soon as next week, according to the President. LiveNOW?s Mike Pache has the latest on what we are hearing from the White House.
President Donald Trump may soon meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a renewed push to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a White House official said Wednesday.
While no date or location has been confirmed, the White House said Trump is open to sitting down with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The potential meeting, first reported by The New York Times and later confirmed to the Associated Press by a White House official, would mark Trump’s first in-person discussion with Putin since returning to office.
It also comes at a pivotal moment, as U.S. sanctions against Russia are expected to escalate by the end of the week.
What is known about the possible Trump-Putin meeting?
The backstory:
The White House said that the idea of a meeting emerged after Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a three-hour discussion with Putin in Moscow. Trump described the meeting on Truth Social as "highly productive" and claimed "great progress was made."
Zelenskyy later confirmed that he and Trump spoke by phone after Witkoff’s visit, and said European leaders joined the conversation. He expressed cautious optimism that Moscow might now be more open to a ceasefire.
What we know:
The White House confirmed that Trump is open to meeting with both Putin and Zelenskyy.
Witkoff’s meeting with Putin focused on Ukraine and future U.S.-Russia relations, lasting roughly three hours, according to the Kremlin.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox Business that talks with allies are ongoing and a leader-level meeting will only happen "if it can be productive."
What we don't know:
No date, location, or format has been announced for a Trump-Putin meeting.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet in person as early as next week to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to the White House. (Photo by JIM WATSON,EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)
It’s unclear whether Russia or Ukraine is any closer to agreeing on key terms for peace.
The Kremlin has not publicly confirmed any plans for a summit with Trump.
What they're saying:
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox Business, "A lot has to happen before that can occur," referring to a potential Trump-Putin meeting. He added, "There’s still many impediments to overcome."
Zelenskyy said Wednesday, "It seems that Russia is now more inclined to agree to a ceasefire," following Witkoff’s visit. He cautioned, however, that Russia could attempt to "deceive us or the United States" during talks.
The Source: This report is based on original reporting by the Associated Press, including interviews with U.S. officials and public statements from the White House and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additional context was provided by The New York Times, which first reported the potential Trump-Putin meeting, and public statements from Russian officials and Kremlin media.