The Kremlin emphasized the importance of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, highlighting its necessity in the context of current international tensions
Russian dictator’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the planned meeting between the leaders of the two powerful states is "extremely important and necessary," particularly for discussing the current global situation and the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to him, such a meeting should become a significant step in strained international relations, but preparation for it must be thorough and fully considered. Commenting on the prospects of the meeting, Peskov stressed: "A high-level meeting should always be prepared with maximum attention to detail, taking into account preliminary consultations and diplomatic negotiations that have taken effort and time." He added that it could significantly impact bilateral relations between Russia and the U.S. and allow for a "serious dialogue" regarding regional and global issues, including the war in Ukraine. Specifically pointing to the political context, the Kremlin representative noted: "We consider this meeting to be unquestionably necessary — both in terms of our countries’ strategic interests and for a deep discussion of the issues surrounding Ukraine, security threats, and regional stability." This suggests that Moscow views the upcoming meeting not only as a formal diplomatic event but as an important step toward exploring possible solutions to international crises. The prerequisites for this event have their peculiarities. On Friday, a meeting of international mediators—representatives of the U.S., Ukraine, and Turkey—began in Istanbul, marking the first stage in a series of negotiations aimed at finding peace in the region. It is expected that, based on this meeting, further discussions involving official representatives of Ukraine and Russia will take place, which could outline key points of future agreements. Following these negotiations, senior officials plan to move on to formal bilateral consultations, including between Trump and Putin. The day before, on Thursday, Donald Trump publicly expressed the opinion on the need for a personal meeting with Vladimir Putin to achieve peace in Ukraine. He stated that it is practically impossible to find a way to stop the war without a concrete conversation with the Russian leader, and emphasized: "If the opportunity to meet with Putin arises, I will take it without hesitation." These words are confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed skepticism regarding the outcomes of the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations in Istanbul and questioned their ability to bring about significant changes. Earlier, before returning to Washington from part of his tour of the Gulf countries, Trump emphasized: "A meeting with Putin is what I want to do when the opportunity arises. We need to establish dialogue to find solutions for Ukraine and potentially end the conflict." These statements indicate that within the U.S. political environment, there is a clear intention to resolve the situation through diplomacy, though the date and format of the upcoming meeting remain uncertain. Overall, the prospects of this diplomatic initiative are being assessed against the backdrop of serious international stagnation, where even the highest-level negotiations do not guarantee a quick resolution of the conflict. Nevertheless, the positions of the Kremlin and Washington suggest that, despite the tension, finding pathways to understanding remains a key goal for both sides—and that this potential meeting could become a step toward a subtle breakthrough in the deadlocked conflict around Ukraine.