Preparations are underway for a historic face-to-face meeting between two world leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This announcement was made by Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, on Saturday, marking a clear departure from Western efforts to isolate Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
In an interview with Russian state media, Ryabkov stated that the possible summit between Putin and Trump could involve broad talks on global issues, not just the war in Ukraine. He emphasized that the main goal of this meeting is to move towards normalizing relations between the two countries and finding ways to resolve potentially dangerous situations, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
However, Ryabkov also acknowledged that organizing such a meeting will require intensive preparatory work. He mentioned that U.S. and Russian envoys could meet within the next two weeks to pave the way for further talks between senior officials.
This announcement comes after a surprising turn of events in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump. On Tuesday, Russian and U.S. representatives met in Saudi Arabia and agreed to start working towards ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties. This marks a significant shift from the previous stance of the U.S. government towards Russia.
During the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Associated Press that the two sides have agreed to pursue three main goals: restoring staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, creating a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and exploring closer relations and economic cooperation.
Rubio stressed that this meeting was just the beginning of a conversation and that more work needs to be done. On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hailed the meeting as “very useful.”
It is worth noting that no Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting, which has raised concerns among European allies who feel they are being sidelined. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his disappointment with not being included in the talks and has postponed his trip to Saudi Arabia, which was scheduled for last Wednesday.
In the midst of this development, President Trump appeared to soften his criticism towards Ukraine. On Friday, he walked back his earlier comments that falsely blamed Kyiv for starting the war. However, he still maintained that Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Joe Biden should have done more to come to terms with Putin.
Trump stated during a radio interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News, “Russia attacked, but they shouldn’t have let him attack,” referring to Putin. He also acknowledged that the war in Ukraine does not directly affect the United States but has a significant impact on Europe.
Meanwhile, thousands of people in London took to the streets on Saturday to show their support for Ukraine. Waving blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags, they marched to the Russian Embassy, demanding that Ukraine be given more support and a place at the table in talks to end the three-year war.
The organizers of the march called for the withdrawal of Russian troops and increased military aid to strengthen Kyiv’s hand. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is scheduled to visit Washington next week, has also emphasized that no decisions about the future of Ukraine can be made without the involvement of Kyiv.
In a phone call with Zelenskyy on Saturday, Starmer reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine and commitment to securing a just and enduring peace to bring an end to Russia’s illegal war.
The upcoming face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin is a significant step towards finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It also marks a positive shift in the relationship between the two countries, which have been at odds for years.
As preparations for the meeting continue, it is crucial to remember that the ultimate goal is to achieve peace and stability in the region. The international community must continue to support Ukraine and work towards finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. Let us hope that this meeting between Trump and Putin will pave the way for a brighter future for Ukraine and its people.
