Moscow— A senior Russian diplomat has indicated that a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could take place as early as next week, marking a potential milestone in U.S.-Russia relations. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, shared the possibility during a Thursday briefing with reporters, though he noted that details remain undisclosed.
Polyanskiy stated that discussions between the two leaders have progressed, with an agreement on a potential location for the summit, though specifics about the venue and exact timing are not yet public. “As far as I heard, there are a number of locations, but they agreed to something that they don’t want to disclose,” he told reporters, adding that the timeline is likely “next week,” based on statements from the presidents themselves.
The potential meeting would be the first in-person summit between a sitting U.S. president and Putin since June 2021, when Putin met with then-President Joe Biden in Geneva. That summit occurred eight months before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has since strained global diplomatic relations. Polyanskiy clarified that no plans have been confirmed for a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, despite ongoing discussions about the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The announcement follows recent diplomatic efforts, including a visit by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow, where he met with Putin to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Russia’s continued military actions, recently describing Russian attacks as “disgusting” and threatening additional sanctions on countries engaging in trade with Moscow, including a 25% tariff on Indian imports due to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
While Trump has signaled a desire for a trilateral meeting involving Zelenskiy, Russian officials have remained noncommittal on including Ukraine in immediate talks. The Kremlin’s focus appears to be on bilateral discussions with the U.S., with Putin suggesting the United Arab Emirates as a possible venue. As preparations continue, the international community watches closely, with expectations tempered by the lack of progress in prior U.S.-Russia negotiations.
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