Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free
Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business, and the world
Russian leader Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with US President Donald Trump in the coming days, as announced by the Kremlin on Thursday. This meeting comes just a day before the deadline set by Trump for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face additional sanctions.
Putin has proposed that the meeting take place in the United Arab Emirates, citing the country’s readiness to host such events. This announcement follows a productive meeting between Putin and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
According to Putin’s aide Yury Ushakov, both sides have agreed in principle to hold a bilateral meeting at the highest level. However, the White House has indicated that the initiative for the meeting came from the Russian side.
The stock market in Russia saw a 4.5% rise following the announcement of the planned meeting. It is important to note that the meeting will not include Ukraine, as Putin has previously declined to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
While there was a suggestion of a trilateral meeting involving Putin, Trump, and Zelenskyy, Moscow chose to focus on the preparations for the bilateral meeting with Trump. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, expressed Ukraine’s readiness for meetings and emphasized the need to end the ongoing conflict.
Despite Trump’s efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, Putin’s demands have proven to be a major obstacle. The Russian president insists on Ukraine abandoning its NATO aspirations and withdrawing its forces from certain regions, among other conditions.
Experts believe that the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin may result in some form of progress being declared, but it is unlikely to bring about any significant change. Baltic politicians have warned about the risks of such a meeting, cautioning against making concessions to an aggressor like Russia.
In recent days, Trump has been increasingly vocal about the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine, threatening tougher sanctions if an agreement is not reached. The US has already imposed tariffs on imports from India in response to their purchases of Russian oil, and further sanctions on Russia’s shipping industry are being considered.
The meeting between Trump and Putin is expected to be closely watched, with implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and international relations as a whole. Stay informed with the White House Watch newsletter for the latest updates on this developing story.
