WASHINGTON – Former U.S. President Donald Trump may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, a senior U.S. official revealed on Thursday, signaling a potential major shift in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
The unnamed official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that informal talks are underway to arrange a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders in a neutral country, possibly Hungary or Turkey. If confirmed, it would mark Trump’s most direct involvement in international diplomacy since leaving office.
“President Trump believes he can broker a deal to end the war quickly,” the official stated. “He has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict and believes a new approach is urgently needed.”
The White House has not commented on the development, but Trump’s team has neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of a meeting with Putin. Sources close to the former president say he views ending the Ukraine conflict as a central part of his foreign policy platform ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Geopolitical Stakes High
A Trump-Putin meeting would come at a time when the Russia-Ukraine war has entered a deadly stalemate, with both sides suffering significant military and civilian losses. The West continues to supply billions in military aid to Kyiv, while Moscow has tightened its strategic grip on eastern Ukraine.
Analysts say the optics of such a meeting could be explosive — both domestically and internationally — and could reshape the global conversation on the war.
“A Trump-Putin summit would be politically controversial but could also reignite diplomatic momentum,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a defense analyst at the Brookings Institution.
It remains unclear whether Ukrainian officials would be included in any potential negotiations.
