US President Donald Trump plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, followed by a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The White House announced the news on Wednesday, citing a face-to-face meeting between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin in Moscow.
Trump’s team is working to finalize plans for these meetings, which would mark a significant development in ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. The location of the potential meetings has not been confirmed yet.
The White House said that Trump expressed his desire to meet with both Putin and Zelensky during his phone call with European leaders on Wednesday. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the President wants to bring an end to “this brutal war” in Ukraine.
Trump’s patience for Russia’s resistance to peace efforts has grown thin, as Moscow continues to attack Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. The US has imposed sanctions on Russia over its actions, including secondary sanctions targeting countries buying Russian oil.
The meetings come after a meeting between Witkoff and Putin in April, which saw increased Russian aggression towards Ukraine. Trump’s administration is seeking concrete examples of what Russia would need to agree to a ceasefire, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the US now has a better understanding of these conditions.
Ukrainian President Zelensky welcomed news of potential talks with Russia, stating that “the pressure on Russia is working.” However, he also emphasized the importance of verifying the details and avoiding deception.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/06/europe/putin-witkoff-meeting-constructive-kremlin-says-intl