Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated there is currently no need for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of detailed work on a settlement for Ukraine. Observers note that time-delay tactics remain a key element of Russian diplomacy, with Moscow aiming to restore dialogue with Washington primarily for its own interests.
At the same time, the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine remains high, and all parties are seeking formats for possible negotiations—be they at the level of working groups or top leadership meetings. There has been a proposal for a Putin-Trump meeting at the G20 summit in November, but the likelihood of such an event taking place is questioned.
Russia's traditional approach has been to enter negotiations without a fixed position, hoping to achieve its priorities during the talks themselves. Experts believe there is still an opportunity to push Russia toward a decision to freeze the war—something Western partners, including the Trump administration and a number of European nations, are actively seeking. Meanwhile, China is cautiously showing readiness to engage in dialogue with Trump without escalating the frontline conflict. Western media reports suggesting a decrease in Chinese purchases of Russian oil add to speculation about Beijing's changing stance.
Moscow continues to maneuver diplomatically and to strengthen its bargaining position through tactical actions on the battlefield. NATO expresses its support for Ukraine until direct talks start, describing Putin's situation as a strategic defeat despite limited Russian advances. Donald Trump, meanwhile, has kept a distance from unequivocally supporting Ukraine, has refrained from supplying certain weapons, and underlines that this conflict is not a primary concern for the US.
Experts also warn of China’s long-term strategy, which benefits from either a protracted war that allows access to Russian resources or a weakened Russia hindered by sanctions. For Trump, the current state in Europe provides economic opportunities for US arms sales, though a prolonged conflict is not in anyone’s real interests.
