US President Donald Trump has said there is a “good chance” he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “very soon” for direct talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Speaking from the Oval Office late Wednesday, Trump described earlier discussions in Moscow between his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and President Putin as “highly productive.” While he stopped short of confirming a summit date, Trump said there was a “very good prospect” that all three leaders could meet soon. He, however, declined to offer specific details.
“We’ve had very productive talks today,” Trump said, when asked whether Putin had made any new offers to support a meeting. The White House later confirmed that Russia had expressed interest in direct talks with Trump and that the U.S. president was “open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky.”
The Kremlin, in a brief statement, acknowledged the Moscow meeting, saying only that “signals” were exchanged in what it described as “constructive” discussions. The diplomatic push comes ahead of Trump’s self-imposed Friday deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire — or face a new wave of U.S. sanctions.
Tensions remain high as the war approaches its fourth year. Despite Trump’s threats, Russian forces have continued airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported that a recent missile strike on a holiday camp in Zaporizhzhia killed two and wounded twelve, while the death toll from a previous strike in Kyiv rose to 32.
Zelensky, in remarks on Wednesday, said he had spoken with Trump about Witkoff’s Moscow visit during a call that also included several European leaders. He reiterated his belief that Russia would only consider peace talks seriously once its financial resources begin to dwindle. “There’s no military sense in this attack. It’s just cruelty to scare people,” he said, referring to the recent bombardment.
In a related move, Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on India for continuing oil imports from Russia. The tariff, which takes effect on August 27, comes amid growing White House frustration over what Trump described as New Delhi’s indifference to civilian casualties in Ukraine. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine,” Trump remarked.
While prospects for a settlement by Friday remain slim, Trump has renewed his rhetoric about ending the war quickly. Before taking office, he vowed to resolve the conflict “in a day,” a promise that now appears increasingly elusive.
The U.S. this week approved an additional $200 million in military support to Ukraine. The new package, announced following another phone call between Trump and Zelensky, includes expanded defence cooperation and funding for drone technology. Ukraine has used drones in recent months to hit Russian refineries and energy infrastructure, while Moscow has stepped up aerial attacks on civilian targets.
Despite the faltering diplomatic efforts — including three failed rounds of peace talks in Istanbul — Trump insists a resolution is still possible. “Everyone agrees this war must come to a close,” he said on his Truth Social account. “We will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.”
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