Addis Ababa, August 7, 2025 (FMC) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to meet soon, with both sides agreeing on a venue for the talks, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ushakov said an agreement in principle had been reached for the two leaders to hold an in-person meeting, potentially as early as next week. Details regarding the timing and agenda are expected to be released at a later date.
The announcement follows a recent visit to Moscow by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, which the White House described as yielding “better results than expected.” Witkoff reportedly met with President Putin and other Russian officials during his trip on Wednesday. Trump later referred to the discussions as “highly productive.”
Ushakov also noted that Witkoff had floated the possibility of a trilateral meeting that would include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin declined to comment further on that proposal.
U.S. media reports earlier this week suggested that Trump’s team had sought a meeting with Putin and had considered extending an invitation to President Zelensky. The Ukrainian leader has expressed interest in direct talks with the Russian president, stating that such a dialogue could help advance stalled peace negotiations.
Trump has recently voiced dissatisfaction with the pace of diplomatic progress between Moscow and Kyiv and has warned of possible new sanctions targeting Russia and its trade partners.
Russia has reiterated its preference for a negotiated settlement to the conflict that it says should address what it views as its core security concerns. Russian officials have pointed to Ukraine’s military requests and continued arms support from European countries as challenges to a diplomatic resolution.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have stated that they resumed direct dialogue with Russia in May partly to demonstrate openness to international mediation, particularly by the United States. Kyiv continues to call for increased Western military assistance and additional sanctions on Russia, arguing that such measures could shift momentum on the battlefield.
According to a report by RT, Russian officials have criticized Ukraine’s approach to the conflict, while Ukraine has maintained that external support is necessary to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.