The White House announced Wednesday that US President Donald Trump is amenable to separate and joint meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a move that might change the course of the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The move comes as global leaders seek a diplomatic breakthrough to end the prolonged conflict in Eastern Europe.
Russia Requests Meeting With Trump
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that Moscow had officially requested a meeting with President Trump.
“The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the president is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky,” Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing.
The announcement follows reports suggesting that Trump could host both leaders as soon as next week, potentially in a landmark three-way summit aimed at brokering peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
French news agency AFP, quoting a senior Ukrainian source, reported that Trump and Zelensky discussed the potential summit in a multi-nation call that also included NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the heads of government from Britain, Germany, and Finland.
Adding weight to the diplomatic effort, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow earlier in the day and held direct talks with President Putin. Trump described the meeting as “highly productive,” fueling speculation that real progress may be on the horizon.
A Sequence of High-Stakes Meetings
According to The New York Times, President Trump is planning to first meet with Putin and then proceed with a joint session involving Zelensky. While this sequencing hasn’t been officially confirmed by either NATO or Ukrainian officials, the White House has not denied the timeline.
If the summit materializes, it will be one of the most consequential diplomatic efforts since the war began in early 2022, and a defining moment of Trump’s current presidential term.
Tariffs and Tensions: India in the Crossfire
Amid this flurry of diplomatic activity, Trump also announced a steep hike in tariffs on Indian goods. The move is a direct response to India’s continued imports of discounted Russian crude oil.
“We will not stand by while our allies fuel a war we are trying to end,” Trump said earlier in the day.
The additional 25% tariff brings the total duties on Indian imports up to 50%, sending a sharp message to global trade partners.
Despite the seemingly cooperative tone between the US and Russia regarding the peace talks, Trump’s administration made it clear that sanctions against Moscow’s trading partners, including India, will go into effect by Friday unless “measurable progress toward peace” is achieved.
Also Read: Explained: Trump Targets India Over Russian Oil | Why It Matters to Global Economy
Trump’s Deadline for Peace
Trump, who has frequently claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war “within 24 hours,” appears to be putting that belief to the test. By setting a deadline of Friday for tangible progress in peace talks, the White House is applying a blend of carrot and stick—opening diplomatic channels while tightening economic pressure.
The eyes of the world are now fixed on Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv as next week’s potential meetings loom large. Whether this is a genuine breakthrough or another chapter in global posturing remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher.
