Trump Plans to Meet with Putin and Zelensky Next Week

President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Wednesday (6) that he intends to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin next week, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a trilateral meeting. Earlier, US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in a meeting described by the Russian leader as ‘highly productive’. ‘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. President Trump wants this brutal war to end,’ said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement. According to Russian state media, the meeting between Putin and Witkoff lasted three hours. The meeting comes amid Trump’s pressure on Moscow to end the war, threatening sanctions on Russian oil. Despite new talks underway, a White House official said, ‘secondary sanctions are still expected to be implemented next Friday (8)’. Oil and gas revenues are an important source of money for the Kremlin, representing about a quarter of the Russian government’s budget. Therefore, these sanctions would pose a challenge to the Russian economy, as well as hinder Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine. ‘Putin has sent some signals to the United States on the Ukrainian issue. Corresponding signals have also been received from President Trump,’ reported the state news agency RIA Novosti, citing the Kremlin. After the meeting, Zelensky, who spoke with Trump following the meeting, said, ‘It seems that Russia is now more inclined towards a ceasefire’. ‘The pressure on Russia is working. But the key is not to be deceived by the details. Neither us, nor the United States,’ said the Ukrainian leader during his evening video speech to the nation.