Kremlin Announces High-Stakes Meeting as Ukraine War Continues
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold critical summit talks within days, the Kremlin confirmed Thursday. The announcement marks a significant diplomatic development as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.
Venue Under Wraps as Teams Prepare
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov revealed that both nations have agreed on a meeting location, though specific details remain classified. “Together with our American colleagues, we are starting to work on specific issues,” Ushakov told reporters, targeting next week for the high-profile discussions.
Trump’s Ukraine Ultimatum Creates Urgency
The summit announcement follows intensive three-hour talks between Putin and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin Wednesday. The meeting comes as Trump has issued an ultimatum demanding Putin agree to a Ukraine truce by Friday or face secondary tariffs on Russian oil purchasers.
Markets Respond Positively to Peace Prospects
Financial markets rallied on news of the potential diplomatic breakthrough. European stocks surged 0.7% on the Stoxx Europe 600, while UBS’s Ukraine Reconstruction basket jumped 3.2%, led by Raiffeisen Bank International’s 11% gain. Conversely, Goldman Sachs’ European defense stocks fell 4.9%, reflecting reduced conflict expectations.
The summit represents Trump’s most significant diplomatic engagement since taking office, with global attention focused on whether the talks can produce a breakthrough in ending Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
