Trump may meet Putin next week to broker Russia-Ukraine peace deal: White House official

US President Donald Trump could meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week as part of his effort to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, a White House official said on Wednesday, AP reported.

While no official schedule or location has been finalised, the official confirmed that the administration is actively exploring the possibility.

The official, who wasn’t authorised to speak publicly, shared the information with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. They emphasised that discussions are still in the early stages and internal plans are being kept under wraps.

The White House added that Trump remains open to meeting both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if such talks help end the war.

First Putin-Trump meeting since Trump’s return

If the summit goes ahead, it would mark the first meeting between Putin and Trump since the latter returned to office this year. It could also be a pivotal moment in the three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine.

However, officials caution that such a meeting won’t guarantee peace, as the two countries remain far apart on their respective demands.

Trump hints at “very good prospect” of talks

Speaking to reporters later, Trump did not confirm any details about the potential venue but said there was “a very good prospect” of a joint summit with both Putin and Zelenskyy.
He stopped short of declaring any breakthrough, saying, “I’ve been disappointed before with this one,” when asked about a possible peace deal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to temper expectations during an interview with foreign media, stating that “a lot has to happen before that can occur.” He noted that the US would be engaging in talks with European allies and Ukraine in the coming days to lay the groundwork for any high-level meetings.

Direct talks could help but timing is key

Rubio acknowledged that a direct meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy could move things forward, but stressed the importance of timing. “We’ve got to get close enough to that point so that a meeting like that will be productive and worth doing,” he said.

“Today was a good day, but we’ve got a lot of work ahead. There’s still many impediments to overcome,” he added.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has consistently expressed willingness to meet Putin face-to-face to negotiate peace, but Russia has so far declined all such proposals. Trump has already met Zelenskyy several times this year, including a notably tense meeting in February in Washington.