Trump speaks of ‘good chance’ of Putin meeting ‘very soon’
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday there was a “good chance” of him meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon.”
Trump described the talks between his special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian leader, which he said were “very good talks.” The US president stressed that “we made a lot of progress” on Russia.
“There’s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon,” Trump told reporters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also addressed the potential meeting between the two presidents, saying that considerable work lay ahead to overcome “many impediments.”
“Today was a good day, but we got a lot of work ahead. There’s still many impediments to overcome, and we hope to do that over the next few days and hours, weeks maybe,” Rubio told Fox Business.
US President Donald Trump could meet in person with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as early as next week, according to media reports citing anonymous White House sources.
The reports follow talks between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian leader that Trump described as “highly productive.”
The New York Times, CNN, AP and Reuters news agencies were among those reporting on Wednesday evening that Trump told European leaders he plans to meet soon with Putin, potentially as early as next week.
Trump would hold a meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the initial meeting with the Russian leader, they said, citing people familiar with the plan.
“The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the president is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “President Trump wants this brutal war to end.”
She didn’t specify a date or location for a possible meeting.
Last week, Trump set a deadline of “10 or 12 days” for Russia to stop the war in Ukraine or face US sanctions.
During the 2024 election campaign, Trump had vowed to bring an end to the war on his first day in office.
Russia ‘more inclined’ to Ukraine ceasefire, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country supports a “lasting and reliable” peace with Russia, before later adding that Moscow seems “more inclined” to a ceasefire.
“The main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details,” Zelenskyy said in a nightly address.
The Ukrainian leader also commented on the meeting earlier Wednesday between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia must end the war that it itself started,” Zelenskyy posted on his X account, adding that Kyiv will “definitely defend its independence.”
Zelenskyy said European leaders had also joined his call with US President Donald Trump, without providing names.
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