Following the recent Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul, which ended without significant progress, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance negotiations. Putin did not attend the Istanbul talks, sending a lower-level delegation instead, leading Trump to emphasize the necessity of a direct meeting between the two leaders to resolve the conflict.

Trump, speaking from Abu Dhabi during his Middle East tour, stated his readiness to meet Putin “as soon as we can set it up,” highlighting the urgency due to the ongoing human cost of the war, with approximately 5,000 deaths per week.

The White House is reportedly preparing a “carrot and stick” strategy for the proposed meeting, considering both increased military aid to Ukraine and the imposition or relaxation of sanctions on Russia.

While the Kremlin has acknowledged the importance of a Trump-Putin summit, it insists that such a meeting requires thorough preparation and must yield tangible results.

The international community, particularly European allies, continues to monitor developments closely, emphasizing the need for sustained pressure on Russia to achieve a meaningful ceasefire and lasting peace in Ukraine.