Putin and Trump Agree To Hold Bilateral Summit, Russia Asks To Keep Ukraine Out For Now

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been agreed upon, according to Kremlin officials, marking the first summit since Trump’s return to office, reported The New Indian Express.

Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed the development Thursday (7 August), revealing that both sides are planning for the summit to take place next week at a venue already chosen “in principle.”

“At the suggestion of the American side, it has been agreed in principle to hold a bilateral meeting at the highest level in the coming days,” Ushakov told reporters.

He noted that the final date remains unconfirmed, as such summits require extensive planning. The location will be disclosed “a little later,” he added.

Although the White House expressed Trump’s willingness to include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in peace talks, Russia dismissed the idea for now.

“We propose, first of all, to focus on preparing a bilateral meeting with Trump, and we consider it most important that this meeting be successful and productive,” Ushakov stated.

The meeting could mark a pivotal moment in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year. However, significant gaps persist between Moscow and Kyiv’s negotiating positions. While Ukraine has recently shown stronger interest in pursuing peace, Western officials suspect Putin is delaying negotiations to give Russian forces time to seize more territory.

Putin has repeatedly refused to compromise and insists on settling the conflict strictly on Russia’s terms. It also remains unclear if Trump’s earlier deadline demanding a halt to violence in Ukraine by Friday (8 August) still applies.

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