Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov announced that a summit between US and Russian presidents has been agreed and will take place soon, with the location to be revealed later. The US side advocated for a trilateral meeting that includes Ukraine, but the Kremlin insisted on a bilateral format, seeking to avoid discussions with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Donald Trump confirmed the likelihood of such a meeting but expressed caution due to differences between US and Russian positions and his previous negotiation experience. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that any summit will only happen if the US manages to coordinate positions with Kyiv and European capitals. This situation creates the risk of diplomatic traps, where a failed summit could be blamed on Kyiv or the EU rather than Moscow.
Russia is pushing for concessions unacceptable to Ukraine and Europe. The US aims to find a compromise to halt hostilities and save lives. However, Trump is not an active supporter of large-scale aid for Ukraine and may need to justify any decisions to voters and political leaders, especially if expected agreements are not reached.
The Kremlin seeks to use the summit to break Putin's international isolation, buy time, and influence the front. Putin is interested in a meeting with Trump as it demonstrates that the Kremlin is not isolated and gives him leverage in dealing with the West.
For Trump, it is important not to appear weak, as failure could remind the public of shortcomings during his first presidential term. Contradictions and risks remain high; even with preliminary agreements, there is no guarantee the summit will take place soon. Further developments will depend on the reactions of Ukraine, Europe, and the political situation in the US.
