Trump Says He’s Ready to Shake Hands With Putin and Zelensky in Ukraine War Finale
What’s the Deal?
In a headline‑grabber move, the U.S. President—yes, that Trump—has stated he’s willing to roll out the red carpet for both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky. It’s a risk‑laden but potentially game‑changing face‑to‑face pivot aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict.
Sanctions: The Sticky Situation
- 25% of sanctions were already slapped on Russia last week. Then, another 25% was applied on Wednesday.
- If the war doesn’t end by Friday, Moscow could face secondary sanctions that target Russian‑friendly oil buyers.
The Meeting Wedged into the Calendar
On Thursday, Putin sat down with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, right in the heart of Moscow. The clock is ticking—Friday is the last day before the secondary sanctions could hit.
White House Says: Open Dialogue
During a BBC interview, the White House summed it up: “Trump is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky.” A mix of ambition and political juggling!
— The Bottom Line
If Trump’s cue for a trio meet sticks, it could be the wildest attempt yet to halt a war that’s cost too much. The stakes are high—so buckle up; this is set to be a dramatic diplomatic drama.
Kremlin’s words on a ‘possible’ meeting to end the conflict is ‘another delay’ to ‘buy more time for the war’
Ukrainian special forces attack a Russian airbase in Crimea
Huge fireball mushroom cloud seen over Russia in a ‘major hit’
Russia Says “Zelensky, What’s Up With That?”
In a whirlwind statement that read more like war‑zone gossip than diplomacy, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov clarified that the thought of a face‑to‑face between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is not on the party list. The only thing on the table is a tea‑time with the U.S. boss, Donald Trump, and a vague notion of a “trilateral” tryst that, spoiler alert, never got the green light.
What Was Actually Discussed (and What Was Omitted)
- Trilateral talks vs. Bilateral: The Washington side tossed the idea of a three‑way gathering into the ring, but it didn’t stall for a proper sit‑down in the Kremlin. In short, no serious talk over the table about it.
- America‑Kremlin planners: The deal to get Russia and Donald Trump together is already blinking in the official docs—“in principle” agreed on venue, and now the parties are hammering the dates out of a calendar.
- Next‑Week Bet: They’re eyeing a meeting sometime next week. “It’s a strong option,” says Ushakov, but the exact day is still under construction.
Why Zelensky Is Like a Ghost at Their Party
According to the Kremlin aide, the talk between the U.S. envoy Witkoff and Putin did not touch on a joint session with the Ukrainian chief. The only “heavy contact” is a handshake with the American president—one that was actually made in principle by U.S. request.
Behind the Scenes
Ushakov added that the U.S. delegation is busy “slinging out information” to their allied pals, building up the “buzz” for the forthcoming meeting. The Kremlin’s side, meanwhile, is focused on the two‑way deal with Trump, insisting that “the main thing is to get that meeting working well and show that it’s productive.” And that’s the gist.
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