File photo of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, are expected to meet as early as next week, Kremlin said on Thursday. The timing of the meeting is crucial, as Trump is trying to corner Russia with his tariff tirade and seeking an end to its war against Ukraine. “At the suggestion of the American side, an agreement has been reached in principle to hold a bilateral summit in the coming days,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said, Russian state news agencies reported. “We are now starting to work out the details together with our American colleagues,” Ushakov added.“Next week has been set as a target date.”Ushakov further added that the venue of the meeting “has been agreed upon in principle” but did not provide details. Kremlin announced the expected meeting between both leaders after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow.Witkoff, during his visit to Moscow, had proposed a trilateral meeting with Zelensky, but Russia did not respond to that proposal. “The Russian side left this option completely without comment,” Ushkov added.Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said that he is likely to meet Putin face-to-face “very soon.”Also Read|2x Tariffs on India a ‘warning’ to China which may also face the same, says Donald TrumpMeet to end Russia-Ukraine war? Trump has been brokering an end to Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, however, three rounds of direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv have failed to yield any progress. Both sides are adamant and appear far from ending the more than three-year-long war. Since February 2022, tens of thousands have been killed in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Russian assaults have forced millions to flee from their homes. Despite several calls from US, Europe and Ukraine, Russia has resisted a ceasefire.
