US President Donald Trump has dismissed earlier reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin must meet with Ukraine’s leader Vladimir Zelensky before holding talks with Trump. Trump stated that the summit could proceed without such a meeting, emphasizing his desire to end the conflict. Meanwhile, Zelensky has repeatedly called for a meeting with Putin, though the Russian president has expressed reluctance due to potential conditions. Zelensky’s legal standing has been questioned by Moscow, as the Ukrainian leader’s presidential term expired last year and he has not held a new election due to martial law. This has led the Kremlin to declare him ‘illegitimate.’ Despite these challenges, Trump expressed optimism, stating that ‘great progress was made’ during recent discussions with the Russian leadership, although no specific outcomes have been detailed.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov suggested that Putin and Trump could have a face-to-face meeting as soon as next week. Later, Putin floated the United Arab Emirates as a possible location for the summit. The summit developments follow a visit to Moscow by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who held three-hour talks with Putin over the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin described the discussion as ‘constructive,’ while the White House said the meeting went better than expected. These developments highlight the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the potential for diplomatic engagement despite significant political and legal challenges.