In a noteworthy announcement, President Trump is gearing up to have a meeting soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a senior official from his administration. This comes after Russian officials made an offer during the visit of special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow.
The potential for this meeting marks a significant event in Trump’s second term, as he plans to confront Putin regarding the important issue of ceasing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The location and timing of the proposed discussion remain uncertain.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump took to social media to share that Witkoff’s talks with Putin had seen great progress, although he noted that the cease-fire he endorsed might not happen by the self-imposed Friday deadline.
There’s a solid consensus that this war must conclude, and we’ll strive to make that happen in the coming days and weeks, Trump reiterated.
However, Trump is entering this conversation facing some hurdles. He must navigate the skepticism surrounding whether Putin might use the meeting as a strategy to distract from the looming sanctions against Russia and to extend peace talks that enable ongoing aggression towards Ukraine. Critics have long warned that Putin might propose this meeting primarily to quell Trump’s rising frustrations linked to the perceived softness on sealing a peace accord.
In a striking move, Trump has already initiated a more aggressive strategy against Russia by announcing an increased 25% tariff on India, a nation buying Russian energy. This escalates the total tariff it faces to 50%. He warned he would target nations that purchase Russian oil unless an agreement is struck, attempting to suffocate the resources funding Putin’s military actions.
These sanctions are beyond unfair; they’re uncalled for and absurd, remarked Randhir Jaiswal, speaking for India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
A Trump advisor indicated that further countries might find themselves facing sanctions related to Russia soon.
After Witkoff’s discussions wrapped up in Moscow, Trump reached out to Zelensky, providing him with insights from their chat and outlining the next steps. Following the call, Zelensky expressed on social media, Our collective stance with our allies is unequivocal—the war must end, and it must be accomplished with integrity. Gratitude goes to the European leaders on the call for their unwavering support.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that the administration could share further insights later on Wednesday regarding its intentions toward Russia. We’ll engage in additional talks today and aim to make some announcements shortly—potentially positive or otherwise, he stated.
On the other side, Russia has not wavered in its stance against Trump’s proposed actions, stating that they would not be pressured by ultimatums. Witkoff’s latest visit—his fifth to Moscow this year—was seen as crucial by Russia, representing an opportunity to convey a message to Trump while signaling a willingness to maintain conversation with Kyiv.
Witkoff met with Putin following discussions with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev, a strong advocate for enhancing ties with the U.S. Clips of Witkoff walking through Moscow with Dmitriev were shared on state media, indicating the proximity of their relations.
The meeting between Putin and Witkoff reportedly lasted around three hours, focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and aspirations to boost U.S.-Russia relations. A very productive and beneficial discussion occurred, stated a Kremlin aide. On Ukraine, certain signals were exchanged, exhibiting the intricate diplomatic dance taking place.
Despite ongoing dialogues, Russia and Ukraine still stand quite far apart in their perspectives regarding the hostilities, with recent talks yielding little advancement. Public statements from Russia have hinted at separating the discourse on Ukraine from the enhancement of economic relations with the U.S.
Trump has indicated a possible linkage between any deals with Russia contingent on the war’s resolution. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has an optimistic outlook towards improving relationships that took a downturn following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, reaching even lower points during former President Joe Biden’s tenure, which focused on isolating Moscow and holding it accountable for the war.
An aide to the Kremlin noted recently that revitalizing these connections would take time, stating, Time is required for the efforts to transition bilateral relations back to a more standard trajectory.
Just hours before the critical meetings, Ukraine alleged that Russia had launched further assaults, targeting a resort in the Zaporizhzhia region and resulting in civilian casualties. Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the attack, emphasizing the senseless violence. This strike is devoid of military rationale, he posted during updates on social media, condemning the brutality aimed at sowing fear among civilians.
