Trump Hints at Possible Putin Meeting Amid Frustrations Over Ukraine War

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday there is a "very good chance" of holding a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, as hopes rise for a potential breakthrough to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump told reporters, “We had some very good talks with President Putin today, and there’s a very good chance that we could be ending — the ending, the road ending, the end of that road.” He added, “That road was long and continues to be long, but there’s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon.”

His comments came after a high-level meeting in Moscow between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, although Trump admitted that there had been no concrete breakthrough in those talks. “I’ve been disappointed before with this one,” he said, declining to provide a timeline for a potential peace deal.

Trump has proposed holding a summit with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, possibly as early as next week. A European government source confirmed that Trump told EU leaders about this plan during a recent phone call. The White House is already exploring possible locations, and officials say the meetings could take place within the next two weeks.

Two senior White House officials told CNN that Putin himself proposed the idea of a summit with Trump during his meeting with Witkoff. Trump, eager to move quickly, has instructed his team to begin planning immediately.

Pressure on Moscow Intensifies

Despite signs of progress, Trump’s patience with the Kremlin appears to be wearing thin. The president has reportedly given Moscow a deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face sweeping secondary sanctions — including a 100% tariff on countries that continue to buy Russian oil.

Trump posted on social media Wednesday that “great progress was made” in the Witkoff-Putin meeting. However, uncertainty remains over whether the U.S. will follow through on sanctions if Russia fails to comply.

A White House official told reporters that the new sanctions are “still expected to be implemented on Friday.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later told Fox Business that Trump will make the final decision within 24 to 36 hours.

Energy revenues account for nearly a quarter of Russia’s national budget. If sanctions cut off buyers of Russian oil, it could severely cripple Moscow’s ability to fund its military operations in Ukraine.

Putin’s Isolation and Trump’s Gamble

Putin has been largely shunned by Western leaders since he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His last face-to-face meeting with a U.S. president was with Joe Biden in Geneva in 2021.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in meeting with Putin to negotiate peace. But Wednesday’s statements marked the most concrete indication yet that high-level diplomacy could be imminent.

As the war enters its fourth year, Trump appears determined to make a bold move toward ending the conflict — even as doubts remain about the feasibility of a swift resolution.