Trump says Putin meeting likely 'very soon' amid ceasefire push
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Trump says a meeting with his Russian counterpart is likely "very soon" after Witkoff's Moscow talks, as the US pushes for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and threatens new sanctions.
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US President Donald Trump makes an announcement about Apple with Apple CEO Tim Cook in the Oval Office, on August 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he is likely to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin "very soon," following what he described as "highly productive" talks in Moscow between his special envoy and Russian officials.
"There's a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about talks with the Russian and Ukrainian leadership.
If held, it would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when then-President Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva. According to The New York Times and CNN, a meeting between Trump and Putin could happen as early as next week, followed by a potential three-way summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting in Moscow between Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and senior Russian officials. Kremlin spokespersons described the talks as “productive,” with both sides exchanging signals on potential conditions for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
"Great progress was made!" Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that he had briefed European allies shortly after.
Despite the progress, the White House confirmed that secondary sanctions on Russia are still scheduled to take effect within 48 hours. Trump has given Moscow until Friday to show tangible progress toward ending the war or face further penalties.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Witkoff returned from Moscow carrying a ceasefire proposal, which will now be discussed with Kiev and US allies in Europe. "There’s a lot of work ahead," Rubio said, noting that any summit with Putin could still be "weeks maybe" away.
Zelensky, NATO leaders briefed during call
According to a senior source in Kiev, Trump’s latest phone call with Zelensky included participation from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the leaders of Britain, Germany, and Finland. The Ukrainian president confirmed the call and signaled cautious optimism.
“It seems that Russia is now more inclined to agree to a ceasefire; the pressure on them is working. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us or the United States in the details,” Zelensky said Wednesday evening.
Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks while making ground advances in eastern Ukraine. Amid growing US-Russia tensions, Trump said he had ordered the repositioning of two US nuclear submarines “in the region” following an online clash with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
In a sharp response, Moscow announced it was ending a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles, accusing Washington of placing similar systems within range of Russian territory.
The Kremlin criticized threats to impose higher tariffs on Russia’s trading partners, including India and China, as "illegitimate," while Trump imposed new tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Trump 'not so interested in talking anymore'
The announced meeting comes after Trump expressed disappointment late last month, on July 28, over the delay in the Ukraine peace process, noting that while a negotiated settlement once appeared within reach, the diplomatic effort has since lost momentum due to entrenched positions and a lack of enough engagement.
"I thought we would be able to negotiate something, and maybe that will still happen, but it has very much laid down the process," Trump told reporters, reflecting growing frustration with the breakdown of talks.
Asked whether he would consider meeting with President Putin to help break the stalemate, Trump dismissed the idea. "I'm not so interested in talking anymore," he said, marking a clear shift from earlier suggestions that he might personally mediate a resolution.
