US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet in the “coming days”, the Kremlin has said.
It follows Trump saying there was a “good chance” he could meet his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts together in person “very soon” to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated support for that idea, while Putin said he was not against meeting Zelensky but he was “very far” from it happening.
Trump’s deadline for Russia to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine or face more sweeping sanctions is due to expire on Friday.
A meeting between Trump and Putin would follow US envoy Steve Witkoff holding talks with the Russian president on Wednesday.
Witkoff has travelled to Moscow four times previously, visits followed by optimism from Trump but ultimately no major breakthrough in peace talks.
Speaking on Thursday, Putin said the United Arab Emirates could host his meeting with Trump, potentially as early as next week.
He said he was “very far” from a meeting with Zelensky because “conditions” had not been met and there was “still a long haul ahead for creation of such conditions”.
Previously, Putin said he would only meet Zelensky during a final phase of negotiations. Kyiv and its Western partners reject Moscow’s demands for ending the war.
Zelensky indicated his support for a summit, acknowledging that various formats of meetings had been discussed – “two bilateral and one trilateral” – and added that Europe “must be a participant” in any talks.
Credit: bbc.com
