Putin and Trump Summit Likely Next Week

There’s a potential summit on the horizon between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump, possibly happening as soon as next week. Two sources familiar with the situation indicated on Monday that discussions are already underway, with Rome being considered as one of the locations.

Zelensky Encourages Putin and Support for Trilateral Meeting

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Putin to “be brave” and has tentatively agreed to a trilateral meeting with Trump. If the summit advances, Rome might still be an option, but other European countries are also being considered as alternative venues.

Kremlin Acknowledges Agreement on Meeting

The Kremlin has indicated that the meeting has been agreed upon “in principle.” However, it could fall through, especially since Zelensky communicated that Ukraine wouldn’t recognize any territory outlined in a peace deal with Russia without explicit approval from the parliament.

This upcoming meeting would mark the first time Putin and Trump have convened since Trump assumed office. With Russia and Ukraine still far apart on key issues, it’s hard to say whether this meeting would lead to any real progress in resolving the conflict that has persisted for three years. Still, it represents a significant moment in the ongoing situation.

When questioned about the meeting, Trump spoke briefly to reporters at the White House, refraining from revealing the proposed location. He expressed optimism, saying, “There’s a very good prospect that they’ll meet.”

As for the potential resolution of hostilities, the president refrained from making any certain predictions, stating, “I was previously disappointed by this.”