White House confirms Russia proposed Trump-Putin meeting; Date and venue undecided
'The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky,' said Leavitt.
While the statement signaled growing diplomatic momentum, Leavitt did not comment on when or where the potential meetings could take place.
An unnamed White House official told The Associated Press that no date or location had been finalised. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said planning remained in early stages.
If the meeting materializes, it would mark Trump's first face-to-face with Putin since returning to office in January and a significant milestone in the ongoing three-year war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin confirmed that Putin held a three-hour meeting with Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, in Moscow on Wednesday. The discussion came just days before a Friday deadline set by the White House for Russia to agree to a peace deal or face expanded economic sanctions, including secondary sanctions targeting nations that continue to buy Russian oil.
'Everyone agrees this war must come to a close,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'And we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.'
Trump, who has repeatedly vowed to end the war on 'Day One' of his second term, has spoken with Putin multiple times by phone since January. He has also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in February and again during Pope Francis' funeral in April.
Trump acknowledged speaking to European leaders on Wednesday following what he described as a 'highly productive' meeting between Witkoff and Putin.
Zelensky said he had a phone call with Trump after the Moscow meeting and that European leaders joined the conversation.
'It seems that Russia is now more inclined to agree to a ceasefire,' Zelensky said, adding that 'the pressure on Moscow is working.'
However, he warned against complacency.
'It is important to make sure Russia does not deceive us or the United States when it comes to the details of a potential agreement,' Zelensky said.
The US is expected to announce new sanctions against Russia on Friday if no meaningful progress is made toward peace. The Trump administration had imposed a 10-day deadline following stalled negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and Western allies.
The New York Times first reported the potential for a three-way summit between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky. It was also reported that Trump has informed European leaders of his intent to meet with Putin first, then host a trilateral summit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Gold steady amid Trump's 100% tariff threat on chip imports and trade tensions
Gold held a moderate loss, as traders looked past uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump's latest trade moves, including threatening a 100% tariff on chip imports. Traders also watched for Trump's nomination within days of a temporary Federal Reserve governor who is expected to be more aligned with his agenda to ease monetary policy.(AFP File Photo) Bullion was steady around $3,370 an ounce after a 0.3% decline in the previous session. This came after Trump said he would impose a 100% levy on semiconductor imports in a bid to force companies to move production back to the US. Meanwhile, relations with key trade partners soured, with the US leader doubling the tariff on Indian goods to 50% over the South Asian country's continued purchases of energy from Russia. Japan may also face higher duties than agreed last month on some products, Kyodo reported. Traders also watched for Trump's nomination within days of a temporary Federal Reserve governor who is expected to be more aligned with his agenda to ease monetary policy. Lower rates benefit gold, which doesn't yield interest. The precious metal's recent rally has been driven by rising expectation of rate cuts. Central bank buying and a broad trend of diversifying away from US dollar-denominated assets have also offered support. It's climbed nearly 30% this year, though the bulk of its gains happened in the first four months, as geopolitical and trade tensions rattled the market. Gold was 0.1% higher at $3,373.45 an ounce as of 8:42 a.m. in Singapore. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was steady. Silver, palladium and platinum all rose.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Big U.S.-India Escalation: Trump Threatens SANCTIONS After 50% Tariffs Over Russia Oil
Brazil's Big BRICS Snub At Trump Over Tariff War, Nikki Haley Warns US Not To Burn Bridge With India In a stunning diplomatic twist, Brazilian President Lula da Silva has refused to call US President Donald Trump amidst a growing trade war. While Trump imposed a crushing 50% tariff on Brazilian imports and threatened similar action on India, Lula declared that he would instead reach out to Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Lula called the tariff day "the most regrettable" in Brazil-US ties and hinted at coordinated BRICS retaliation. India, too, faces tariff threats from Trump over Russian oil purchases. Meanwhile, Nikki Haley warned Trump against alienating India while soft-pedaling on China. As Trump dismisses BRICS as "fading fast," the bloc's symbolic banknote launch and anti-dollar stance suggest a global realignment, with India at its center. The global trade game is shifting, and New Delhi is no longer a silent player.#lula #donaldtrump #trumptariffs #brics #bricsbanknote #modi #xijinping #putin #nikkihaley #indianews #brazilnews #globaltradewar #usindia #usbrasil #russianoil #chinaus #wto #geopolitics #modigovernment #usforeignpolicy #trendingnow #india #breakingnews #trending #bharat #toi #toibharat #indianews 6.1K views | 20 hours ago
Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UCLA says Trump administration froze $584 million of its federal funding
President Donald Trump's administration has frozen $584 million in federal funding for the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA said on Wednesday after the government reprimanded the university over pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel's war in Gaza. The government alleges universities, including UCLA, allowed antisemitism during the protests. Large demonstrations took place at UCLA last year. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. 'Currently, a total of approximately $584 million in extra-mural award funding is suspended and at risk,' UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said in an update on the university website. University of California President James Milliken separately said the institution agreed to have talks with the federal government to restore its funding. Milliken said funding 'cuts do nothing to address antisemitism.' The White House had no immediate comment. Last week, UCLA agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit by some students and a professor who alleged antisemitism. It was also sued this year over a 2024 violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at the height of the campus protest movement. The government has in recent weeks settled its probes with Columbia University, which agreed to pay over $220 million, and Brown University, which said it will pay $50 million. Both institutions accepted certain government demands. Talks to settle with Harvard University are ongoing. Rights advocates have raised concerns about academic freedom and free speech. The government has also attempted to deport foreign student protesters but faced judicial roadblocks. Stanford University's student-run newspaper sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, saying student writers censored themselves and turned down assignments related to Gaza to avoid being targeted for deportation. Rights advocates have noted a rise in antisemitism, anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia due to the war. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia.
