Russia Requests Meeting with Trump as Part of Ukraine Peace Efforts, White House Confirms
The White House has confirmed that Russia has requested a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. The American president is open to discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This announcement comes amid speculation that a high-stakes summit involving Trump, Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could take place as early as next week.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Wednesday that the Russians have expressed a desire to meet with President Trump, who is receptive to meeting both Putin and Zelensky.
According to AFP, Trump and Zelensky discussed the possibility of a summit during a phone call, which also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, along with leaders from Britain, Germany, and Finland.
The phone call followed discussions in Moscow between Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and President Putin, which Trump later described as “highly productive.” Despite this, the White House emphasized that new sanctions would be imposed on Moscow's trading partners, including India, by Friday.
The New York Times has reported that Trump intends to meet with Putin first, followed by a trilateral summit with Zelensky. Although there has been no confirmation from NATO or Ukrainian officials, momentum appears to be gathering.
Separately, on Wednesday, Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, increasing the total to 50 percent. This action was in response to India’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil.
Trump, who has claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict “within 24 hours of taking office,” has reportedly set a Friday deadline for Moscow to make progress towards peace or face increased sanctions.
