The Kremlin announced that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump may happen this month, though preparations might require more time. Trump expressed his intention to meet with Putin and addressed Ukraine's concerns about exclusion from U.S.-Russian discussions. In a recent statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the significance of the talks in Riyadh for bilateral relations between Russia and the United States, emphasizing their importance in the context of the Ukraine conflict entering its third year.
Peskov noted that while the meeting was a crucial step towards resolving the Ukraine crisis, there is still a considerable distance to cover. When asked about a potential meeting this month, Peskov replied, "Possibly. And possibly not."
The last face-to-face encounter between a U.S. and Russian leader occurred during the summit in Geneva in June 2021. Trump has altered Western policy towards Russia and Ukraine by initiating talks with Russia independently, excluding Ukraine and European powers. He aims to end the ongoing conflict, acknowledging Putin's willingness to negotiate, but has not outlined a specific strategy to halt the devastating war in Ukraine.
The talks in Riyadh marked the first attempt by the U.S. and Russia to seek solutions to the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. Notably, Ukrainian and European representatives were not present, with Kyiv insisting on its involvement in any decisions impacting the country.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine originated in 2014 following political upheaval and Russia's annexation of Crimea. Putin's military intervention in 2022, termed a "special military operation," was justified as a response to safeguarding Russian-speaking populations and countering perceived threats from Ukraine's potential NATO membership. Western powers view Russia's actions as aggressive and destabilizing, with concerns of potential NATO involvement in the conflict.