Ukraine: Putin, Trump to meet 'soon' over possible ceasefire – DW – 08/08/2025
US President Donald Trump says a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine is edging closer.As a result, Trump says he is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin "shortly," at an unknown location which, according to Trump, is "very popular for a lot of reasons.
"Putin would like to meet as soon as possible," Trump said, adding that the situation in Ukraine "could be solved very soon."
According to the US leader, the meeting would have been held sooner, but that wasn't possible due to "security arrangements that unfortunately people have to make."
According to the US president, a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia would include territory swaps between the two countries.
"We are looking to get some territory back," Trump said, adding it would be for the "betterment" of both countries.
Ukraine has repeatedly refused calls to give up any of its territory in exchange for a ceasefire.
Friday's announcement from Trump comes after Putin's meeting with US special envoy Stefe Witkoff in Moscow.
According to a report, Putin told Witkoff he would be willing to agree to a ceasefire if Kyiv agreed to withdraw its forces from the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.
As a result, Russia would take control of the region, which includes the cities Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the Crimean peninsula it occupied in 2014, which Russia would like to receive international acknowledgment for its sovereignty over.
As a result, the US newspaper reported, the Trump administration began preparing for a summit with the Russian leader, despite officials in Europe being skeptical of the suggestion being viable due to Ukraine having to give up territory without Russia obliging to more than stopping the fighting.
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