Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed interest in meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being considered as a potential venue. This potential summit, the first between the two leaders since 2019, comes as the White House is reportedly contemplating new sanctions against Russia due to a lack of progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. A White House official indicated that any U.S.-Russia summit would likely require Putin to commit to meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a condition Moscow has yet to fully embrace.
According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs adviser, the idea for this summit was initially proposed by White House envoy Steve Witkoff. Moscow views the prospect positively, with a potential meeting eyed as early as the following week. Putin has previously stated openness to meeting Zelenskyy, but only if specific conditions are met, primarily that a negotiated agreement between their delegations is nearing finalization. Ukrainian officials have expressed concern about being marginalized in any direct U.S.-Russia negotiations. The proposed meeting underscores the complex diplomatic maneuvers underway to address the Ukraine conflict, with a recent Gallup poll indicating a shift in Ukrainian public opinion, where approximately 69% now favor a negotiated settlement to the war, a notable change from 2022 when 73% favored fighting until victory.