Trump Shifts Stance Meeting Putin Without Prior Zelensky Talks
Trump Signals Shift, Ready for Putin Talks Without Zelensky in Ukraine Peace Push
US-Russia-(Special / Web Desk) – U.S. President Donald Trump says he is ready to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin to talk about the war in Ukraine — even if Putin has not met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky first.
President Donald Trump has shifted away from his earlier position that required a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before any direct talks with the Kremlin.
Trump’s Ceasefire Deadline Faces Uncertainty
Earlier, Trump set a Friday deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, warning of tougher U.S. sanctions if it refused. But when asked in the Oval Office whether the deadline still stood, Trump’s answer was unclear.
“That’s going to be up to him (Putin),” Trump said. “We’ll see what he has to say.”
Rising Pressure on Moscow Since Trump’s Return
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has stepped up pressure on Russia to end its military campaign in Ukraine.
Kremlin Confirms Talks but Excludes Zelensky
The Kremlin said Thursday that Putin plans to attend a summit with Trump in the “coming days,” but ruled out including Zelensky. On the same day, Zelensky stressed that he must be part of any negotiations.
When Trump was asked if Putin needed to meet Zelensky first, his answer was short: “No, he doesn’t.”
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Putin has suggested the United Arab Emirates as a possible summit location, though Washington has not confirmed it. If held, this would be the first meeting between a sitting U.S. and Russian president since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in 2021.
Three previous rounds of Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul failed to make progress. The war, now in its fourth year, has left tens of thousands dead, forced millions from their homes, and destroyed large areas of eastern and southern Ukraine.
Trump–Putin Contacts Over the Years
Trump and Putin last met in person at the 2019 G20 summit in Japan. They have spoken by phone several times since Trump returned to office. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said next week is the target date for the meeting and that a venue had been agreed “in principle,” but Washington denied any confirmation.
At Istanbul talks, Russian negotiators demanded that Ukraine withdraw from certain territories it still controls and give up Western military support—conditions Kyiv has firmly rejected.
Special Envoy’s Failed Push for Three-Way Talks
Reports of the summit surfaced after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow. Witkoff proposed a trilateral meeting with Zelensky, but Putin dismissed the idea, saying, “Certain conditions must be created for this. Unfortunately, we are still far from creating such conditions.”
Putin’s Stance on Meeting Zelensky
Putin, who has ruled Russia for more than 25 years, said in June he was open to meeting Zelensky, but only during the final phase of peace negotiations.
Zelensky Calls for Ukraine and Europe’s Inclusion
In his nightly address, Zelensky said it was “only fair” for Ukraine to be part of any peace talks. He also urged European leaders to participate, noting Ukraine’s ongoing EU membership negotiations.
Zelensky spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressing that “Europe must be a participant in the relevant processes.”
Ukraine Pushes for Joint Security Alignment
The Ukrainian president said Ukrainian, European, and U.S. security advisers held an online meeting Thursday to “align our joint views.” He closed with a direct appeal to Moscow: “Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same brave approach from the Russian side. It is time we ended the war.”
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