US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin may meet next week, according to Moscow’s deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy. He confirmed the possibility on Thursday while speaking to reporters.
Polyanskiy said there were “a number of locations” discussed for the meeting. However, both leaders decided not to reveal the venue for now. “The timeline is, I think, next week, but that's again judging from what presidents said themselves,” he added.
No Update on Possible Putin-Zelensky Meeting
The Russian envoy also addressed questions about a potential meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He clarified that he had no knowledge of such a plan. “I haven't heard about any meeting planned with President Zelenskiy, but I am not in the loop,” he said. Still, he did not rule out the possibility.
When Did Putin Last Meet a US President
The last meeting between Putin and any US president took place in June 2021. Back then, Putin met Donald Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in Geneva. Since then, no US-Russia summit has been held.
Background of the Conflict
Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, claiming it faced security threats. Ukraine and its Western allies dismissed the claim, calling the move an “imperial-style land grab.”
During his election campaign, Trump promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. However, almost seven months into his second term, that pledge remains unfulfilled.
Tariffs and Diplomatic Push
Recently, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods. This decision came because New Delhi continues to buy oil from Russia. Despite the trade tensions, Trump praised a meeting between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin on Wednesday, saying “progress was made.”
The White House confirmed that Russia had expressed interest in meeting Trump. Officials hinted that the meeting could happen as early as next week. This would be a fresh attempt to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, which has now entered its fourth year.