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| Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to meet in coming days, Kremlin aide says | Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to meet in coming days, Kremlin aide says |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Trump says there is a "good prospect" of summit with Putin and Zelensky "very soon" | Watch: Trump says there is a "good prospect" of summit with Putin and Zelensky "very soon" |
| US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet in the "coming days", a Kremlin aide has said. | US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to meet in the "coming days", a Kremlin aide has said. |
| It follows Trump saying there was a "good chance" he could meet his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts together in person "very soon" to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. | It follows Trump saying there was a "good chance" he could meet his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts together in person "very soon" to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. |
| Trump's deadline for Russia to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine or face more sweeping sanctions is due to expire on Friday. | Trump's deadline for Russia to agree a ceasefire in Ukraine or face more sweeping sanctions is due to expire on Friday. |
| A possible meeting between Trump and Putin would follow US envoy Steve Witkoff holding talks with the Russian president on Wednesday. | A possible meeting between Trump and Putin would follow US envoy Steve Witkoff holding talks with the Russian president on Wednesday. |
| Witkoff has travelled to Moscow four times previously, visits followed by optimism from Trump but ultimately no major breakthrough in peace talks. | Witkoff has travelled to Moscow four times previously, visits followed by optimism from Trump but ultimately no major breakthrough in peace talks. |
| Trump was also asked at a White House briefing on Wednesday night whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin had agreed to a three-way summit, and he said there was a "very good prospect". | Trump was also asked at a White House briefing on Wednesday night whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin had agreed to a three-way summit, and he said there was a "very good prospect". |
| Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the idea of a three-way summit was mentioned at talks in Moscow on Wednesday, but was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying the option was left by Russia "without comment". | Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the idea of a three-way summit was mentioned at talks in Moscow on Wednesday, but was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying the option was left by Russia "without comment". |
| Zelensky indicated his support for a summit, saying on X: "We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders." | Zelensky indicated his support for a summit, saying on X: "We in Ukraine have repeatedly said that finding real solutions can be truly effective at the level of leaders." |
| He added it was "necessary to determine the timing and the range of issues to be addressed". | He added it was "necessary to determine the timing and the range of issues to be addressed". |
| Ushakov said a location for a meeting between Trump and Putin had been agreed, with further details to be announced later. | Ushakov said a location for a meeting between Trump and Putin had been agreed, with further details to be announced later. |
| The official, who advises Putin on foreign affairs, said all parties have begun working on the details. | The official, who advises Putin on foreign affairs, said all parties have begun working on the details. |
| Last month, Trump admitted to the BBC that after all four of Witkoff's previous visits, Putin had disappointed him after talks had initially led to optimism. | Last month, Trump admitted to the BBC that after all four of Witkoff's previous visits, Putin had disappointed him after talks had initially led to optimism. |
| The US President is now striking a more cautious tone, telling reporters on Wednesday: "I don't call it a breakthrough...we have been working at this for a long time. There are thousands of young people dying... I'm here to get the thing over with." | The US President is now striking a more cautious tone, telling reporters on Wednesday: "I don't call it a breakthrough...we have been working at this for a long time. There are thousands of young people dying... I'm here to get the thing over with." |
| On Wednesday, the Kremlin released a vague statement about Witkoff's visit, calling the discussions "constructive" and noting that both sides had exchanged "signals". | On Wednesday, the Kremlin released a vague statement about Witkoff's visit, calling the discussions "constructive" and noting that both sides had exchanged "signals". |
| Zelensky meanwhile said he had spoken to Trump about Witkoff's visit, with European leaders also on the call. | Zelensky meanwhile said he had spoken to Trump about Witkoff's visit, with European leaders also on the call. |
| The Ukrainian president has been warning that Russia would only make serious moves towards peace if it began to run out of money. | The Ukrainian president has been warning that Russia would only make serious moves towards peace if it began to run out of money. |
| Images shared by Russian outlets showed Putin and Witkoff - who have met several times previously - smiling and shaking hands in a gilded hall at the Kremlin | Images shared by Russian outlets showed Putin and Witkoff - who have met several times previously - smiling and shaking hands in a gilded hall at the Kremlin |
| Expectations are muted for a settlement by Friday - when Trump's deadline expires - and Russia has continued its large-scale air attacks on Ukraine despite the US threat of sanctions. | Expectations are muted for a settlement by Friday - when Trump's deadline expires - and Russia has continued its large-scale air attacks on Ukraine despite the US threat of sanctions. |
| As pressure builds, Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Indian imports over its continued purchase of Russian oil. | As pressure builds, Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Indian imports over its continued purchase of Russian oil. |
| Before taking office in January, Trump said he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day. The conflict has raged on and his rhetoric towards Moscow has since hardened. | Before taking office in January, Trump said he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day. The conflict has raged on and his rhetoric towards Moscow has since hardened. |
| Three rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul have failed to bring the war closer to an end, three-and-a-half years after Moscow launched its full-invasion. | Three rounds of talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul have failed to bring the war closer to an end, three-and-a-half years after Moscow launched its full-invasion. |
| Moscow's military and political preconditions for peace remain unacceptable to Kyiv and to its Western partners. | |
| Russian demands include Ukraine becoming a neutral state, dramatically reducing its military and abandoning its Nato aspirations. | |
| It also wants Ukrainian military withdrawal from its four partly occupied regions in the south-east, and the demobilisation of its soldiers. | |
| Russia also demands international recognition of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as the annexed Crimea. | |
| Other conditions include a ban on Ukraine's membership in any military alliances, a limit on the size of the Ukrainian army, Russian as an official language, and the lifting of international sanctions on Russia | |
| The Kremlin has also repeatedly turned down Kyiv's requests for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. | |
| Meanwhile, the US approved $200m (£150m) in additional military aid to Ukraine on Tuesday, including support for drone production. | Meanwhile, the US approved $200m (£150m) in additional military aid to Ukraine on Tuesday, including support for drone production. |