Trump and Putin Eye Key Meeting as Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Intensify

Trump and Putin: A Sit-Down in the Works, But No Date Yet

There’s been a lot of buzz around a potential meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin—and now the Kremlin has finally weighed in. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the face-to-face will definitely happen... just not right away.

“The presidents have expressed their political will that it should take place,” Peskov told Russian state media. “But timing has to be right, and preparations have to be thorough.”

Why Everyone’s Talking About This

This isn't just about two world leaders shaking hands. The Trump-Putin meeting could be a major turning point in global diplomacy, especially as talks of a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict continue to drag. Trump’s efforts to cozy up to Moscow have been raising eyebrows—both at home and abroad.

Let’s break down why this meeting matters:

• Trump’s Russia Reset: Since returning to the international stage, Trump has taken a noticeably softer tone with Moscow compared to the Biden administration.

• Allies on Edge: European nations and key U.S. allies are watching this carefully. Many are wary of Trump giving too much ground to Russia—especially after years of strained relations under Putin’s leadership.

• Ukraine in the Crosshairs: At the heart of all this? A sluggish and fragile negotiation process over a potential ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The Lead-Up: Meetings Behind Closed Doors

This past Friday, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, sat down with Putin in St. Petersburg for a marathon four-and-a-half-hour meeting. Witkoff, who’s quickly become one of Trump’s go-to men for Russian diplomacy, is working to shake things up and breathe life into the Ukraine ceasefire talks.

Witkoff’s relationship with Russian officials has been warming. He’s already visited Russia twice since January and even remarked, “I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy.” That kind of talk is making waves, especially back in Washington.

The Kremlin released a brief statement after the meeting, stating that Witkoff and Putin discussed “aspects of the Ukraine crisis settlement.” Details were thin, but the length of the meeting alone has people speculating that things are moving—slowly, but surely.

Meanwhile in D.C...

On the U.S. end, Kirill Dmitriev, a top Kremlin aide and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, made a quiet trip to Washington earlier this month. His visit wasn’t publicized much, but sources say it was directly tied to ongoing back-channel negotiations on sanctions and military drawdowns.

While Trump’s team is trying to make headway, it’s no secret the former president is feeling the pressure. On his Truth Social platform, he recently wrote:

“Russia has to get moving.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that sentiment, revealing that Trump has been “frustrated” not just with Putin, but also with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Ceasefire Puzzle

Here’s where things get tricky. Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposal last month, but Russia shot it down. Instead, the Kremlin linked any kind of truce—especially one involving the Black Sea—to a rollback of Western sanctions.

The Kremlin wants relief. Ukraine wants peace. But neither side seems ready to fully commit without getting what they want first.

And then there’s the big question: What would a ceasefire even look like?

Trump’s Team: What They’re Proposing

Trump’s Russia and Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, has also been actively floating ideas. There was some controversy last week after The Times (UK) reported that Kellogg proposed dividing Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement plan. But Kellogg quickly fired back on social media:

“I was speaking of a post-ceasefire resiliency force in support of Ukraine's sovereignty,” he clarified on X (formerly Twitter).
“In discussions of partitioning, I was referencing zones of responsibility for allied forces—no U.S. troops involved.”

The concept? A reassurance force led by British and French troops, stationed west of the Dnieper River. Ukrainian forces would control the middle ground, while Russian troops hold the east. Between them: a demilitarized buffer zone.

International Reaction: A Coalition in Motion

London and Paris, surprisingly, are on board. They’ve been spearheading a “coalition of the willing”—a loose alliance of countries working on post-ceasefire security guarantees for Ukraine.

“Our objectives are to reassure, support, and protect Ukraine to ensure that any peace settlement secures against the risk of future Russian aggression,” read a joint statement from both governments.

But the coalition’s plans hit a small bump when EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called them “unclear” and lacking cohesion. British Defense Minister John Healey wasn’t having it:

“The plans are well developed with clear objectives,” he told reporters.

So while not everyone is on the same page, progress is definitely happening behind the scenes.

Trump’s Take on Putin

One of the most interesting angles? Trump himself continues to speak glowingly about Putin.

“We’ve always gotten along well,” Trump said last month when asked about his Russian counterpart.

That’s in stark contrast to how President Biden and much of Washington viewed the Russian leader after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Biden administration took a hardline approach, slamming sanctions down and providing billions in military support to Kyiv.

Now, as Trump works to rebuild diplomatic ties, he’s walking a delicate line: appearing tough enough to negotiate, but friendly enough to bring Putin to the table.

What’s Next?

At this point, the timeline for a Trump-Putin sit-down is anyone’s guess. There’s no official date, but both sides say it’s going to happen—eventually.

A lot still depends on:

• Sanctions relief: Will the U.S. offer anything to sweeten the deal for Moscow?

• Ukraine’s response: How much autonomy will Zelensky have if major Western players start pushing for peace?

• Europe’s role: Will the “coalition of the willing” solidify, and how involved will the U.S. ultimately be?

For now, Trump’s team keeps pushing forward, but no one’s expecting an overnight breakthrough.

Final Thoughts

The potential Trump-Putin summit is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated geopolitical events in recent years. With war fatigue setting in across Europe and the U.S., and with billions of dollars already spent, leaders are desperate for some kind of resolution in Ukraine.

But peace talks—especially ones involving leaders as strong-willed as Trump and Putin—don’t come easy. The world’s watching, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Stay tuned. Things are just getting started.