Trump could meet with Putin as soon as next week, says White House aide

US President Donald Trump plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, and follow it up with a three-way meeting that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — without any European leaders present.

The planned meetings, first reported by the New York Times, came to light during a phone call Trump held on Wednesday with several European leaders. According to reports, Trump said he intended to meet with Putin soon, followed by a second meeting including both Putin and Zelenskyy.

“The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy. President Trump wants this brutal war to end,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, responding to the report. However, she did not address the potential timing of a meeting.

The potential meeting was revealed just hours after Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. It’s not clear whether Putin or Zelenskyy has officially agreed to the proposal.

Trump’s statement came after a three-hour meeting between Witkoff and Putin at the Kremlin, just two days ahead of the US-imposed deadline for Russia to show progress towards a peace agreement or face fresh economic penalties.

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