Trump plans to meet with Putin next week on Ukraine - NYT

Donald Trump intends to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week to discuss Ukraine, The New York Times reported, citing sources. It is still unclear when exactly and where such a meeting may take place, The Wall Street Journal wrote. Trump's desire became known after talks held in Moscow on Wednesday by his special envoy Steve Whitkoff. Trump said they made "excellent progress."

US President Donald Trump intends to meet "soon" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a senior official in the US administration, whose name the publication did not disclose, told The Wall Street Journal. Trump is open to the idea of meeting with Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the newspaper's interlocutor. But it is unclear when and where it might take place, the WSJ writes.

Trump has told European allies that he plans to see Putin and Zelensky as early as next week, reports Bloomberg, citing its source. According to information from two of The New York Times' interlocutors, Trump intends to speak with Putin in person first, followed a short time later by another three-person negotiation with Zelensky. The presence of European leaders is not expected, the NYT writes. CNN's White House source confirms that organizing the meetings next week, contrary to Trump's words, will be difficult, given the need for time for the talks, as well as logistical difficulties.

"The Russians have expressed a desire to meet with President Trump, and the president is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky," White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said as quoted by Bloomberg.

It is unclear whether Putin and Zelensky agree with Trump's plan, the NYT noted. However, Zelensky participated in the call between Trump and European leaders and confirmed afterward that he had a conversation with the US president, the newspaper added.

Information about Trump's readiness to meet with Putin emerged after talks between Trump's special envoy Steve Whitkoff and the Russian president, which took place in Moscow on August 6. It was Whitkoff's fifth visit to Russia this year. Trump wrote on the social media network Truth Social that the meeting was "extremely productive" and that "great progress" was made, but gave no details. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that "some signals were transmitted on the Ukrainian issue" from the Russian side and that "corresponding signals were received from President Trump as well," Bloomberg reports.

Information about Trump's readiness to meet with Putin emerged after talks between Trump's special envoy Steve Whitkoff and the Russian president, which took place in Moscow on August 6. It was Whitkoff's fifth visit to Russia this year. Trump wrote on the social media network Truth Social that the meeting was "extremely productive" and that "great progress" was made, but gave no details. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that "some signals were transmitted on the Ukrainian issue" from the Russian side and that "corresponding signals were received from President Trump as well," Bloomberg reports.

A White House spokesman did not respond to the NYT's request, nor did representatives of Whitkoff, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and State Department head Marco Rubio. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov also did not respond to the NYT's request.

The meeting with Putin will be one of the most significant moments from the beginning of Trump's second presidential term, says WSJ. The US president previously gave Russia 10 days to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine: this deadline expires on Friday, August 8. In case Russia refuses, Trump threatened new sanctions. On Wednesday, August 6, he imposed an additional duty on imports from India because it buys Russian oil.

Trump, in the event of talks with Putin, will need to overcome fears that Putin will use the meeting to avoid the threat of sanctions on Russian energy consumers and delay peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported. Critics have long speculated that Putin would try to appease Trump's anger, which has flared after months of dodging a peace deal, the newspaper added.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor