Putin Hopes for Meeting with Trump as White House Pushes for Ukraine Peace Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his desire to meet with US President Donald Trump next week, contingent upon a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This comes as the White House sets a deadline for progress in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his hope to meet with US President Donald Trump next week, possibly in the United Arab Emirates. However, a White House official indicated that such a summit might not occur unless Putin also agrees to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This announcement came just before a White House deadline for Russia to show progress in ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The US is expected to impose additional sanctions on Russia, according to an anonymous White House official. This official stated that a US-Russia summit would not proceed without Putin's agreement to meet Zelenskyy. The specifics of whether Zelenskyy should attend the summit or a subsequent meeting were not clarified.

Ukraine's Concerns and European Support

Ukraine fears being sidelined by direct talks between Washington and Moscow. Zelenskyy has been in contact with several European leaders amid heightened diplomatic activity. European nations have pledged their support for Ukraine until Russia's invasion is defeated. Zelenskyy emphasised the need for European involvement in resolving the conflict on their continent.

Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, dismissed the idea of including Zelenskyy in the summit, although Trump was open to it. Ushakov stated, "We propose, first of all, to focus on preparing a bilateral meeting with Trump, and we consider it most important that this meeting be successful and productive." He added that US special envoy Steve Witkoff's suggestion of involving Ukraine's leader "was not specifically discussed."

Potential Summit Details and Conditions

Putin mentioned that he was open to direct talks with Zelenskyy but noted that "certain conditions need to be created" for such discussions. The Kremlin has previously stated that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy should occur only when their delegations are close to an agreement. Although Putin suggested the UAE as a possible venue for the summit, no specific location or details had been confirmed by Thursday morning.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, met with Witkoff and expressed hope that a Trump-Putin meeting would allow Moscow to "clearly convey its position." Dmitriev anticipated discussions on mutually beneficial economic issues, including joint investments in rare earth elements.

Public Opinion and Peace Efforts

A recent Gallup poll revealed that Ukrainians increasingly favour negotiating a peace settlement. Conducted in early July, the survey showed about 70% of Ukrainians support seeking negotiations soon. This marks a significant shift from 2022 when three-quarters wanted to continue fighting until victory. Support for continuing the war has declined across all regions and demographics.

In Kyiv, opinions on the potential Trump-Putin meeting were mixed. Resident Ruslan Prindun said, "Negotiations are necessary, and we all really want the war to end… because this war will only end with negotiations." However, Volodymyr Tasak expressed scepticism about positive outcomes from US-Russia talks, while Lyudmila Kostrova believed Putin aimed to avoid US sanctions by agreeing to meet Trump.

Zelenskyy's Stance on Negotiations

Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of securing a ceasefire and long-term security guarantees in any potential negotiations with Russia. He stressed that these considerations must involve both the US and Europe. Despite Trump's public urging for Putin to relent, Russian strikes on civilians have continued unabated.

A recent Russian attack in Ukraine's central Dnipro region resulted in four deaths and eight injuries. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's willingness for meetings and urged Russia to adopt a similar approach to end the war.

The proposed meeting between Trump and Putin would be the first US-Russia summit since 2021 when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva. While it could mark progress toward ending the war, there is no guarantee it would halt hostilities as Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on peace terms.

With inputs from PTI