A bilateral assembly between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin might occur as quickly as subsequent week, a White Home official mentioned Wednesday.
However Trump himself was much less definitive when requested by reporters at an Oval Workplace occasion later within the day about whether or not he would meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Effectively, look, I do not wish to say it is — I have been disillusioned earlier than with this one,” he answered.
On the identical time, he mentioned there is a “superb prospect” of a summit between Putin and Zelenskyy.
“Effectively, there is a – an excellent prospect that they’ll,” he mentioned. “And we’ve not decided the place, however we had some superb talks with President Putin right now. And, there’s an excellent likelihood that we could possibly be ending the – ending the spherical — ending the tip of that highway. That highway was lengthy and continues to be lengthy. However, there is a good likelihood that they are going to be a gathering very quickly.”
President Donald Trump speaks within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, Aug. 6, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
When requested whether or not there was breakthrough in Wednesday’s talks in Moscow between Putin and envoy Steve Witkoff and whether or not Putin made some form of concession that he hasn’t been prepared to make earlier than” Trump responded, “I do not name it a breakthrough. I imply, we have been engaged on this a very long time.”
Trump was requested whether or not his opinion that Putin was “tapping” him alongside had modified, however he mentioned it was too quickly to know.
“I can not reply the query but. I will let you know, in a matter of weeks, perhaps much less. However we have made numerous progress,” Trump mentioned.
He wouldn’t weigh in on whether or not they’re near a deal as he has been “very disillusioned” earlier than.
When Witkoff returned from Moscow on Wednesday, he relayed to President Trump that Putin wish to meet with him, the White Home official mentioned.
In response, Trump indicated he’s open to that if Putin additionally meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the official added.
President Donald Trump in Turnberry, Scotland, July 28, 2025 and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, July 27, 2025.
Getty Pictures/AP
Throughout an interview with Fox Enterprise Community’s Larry Kudlow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was measured about what had come out of the day’s developments associated to Russia and Ukraine, saying it might take time to deliver the leaders of the nations collectively.
“I do not know if it will be subsequent week or not. It stays to be seen. I believe it will rely so much on how a lot progress we will make,” the secretary mentioned when requested about Trump’s plans for trilateral summit.
Rubio mentioned that the administration would maintain extra talks with European allies and the Ukrainians within the coming days aimed toward deliver all sides to the purpose the place a face-to-face assembly with Putin and Zelenskyy “will probably be productive and value doing.”
“Hopefully, if issues proceed to progress, a possibility will current itself very quickly for the president to fulfill each with Vladimir Putin and with President Zelenskyy in some unspecified time in the future right here, hopefully within the close to future – however clearly so much has to occur earlier than that may happen,” he mentioned, stressing there was “numerous work forward.”
“There’s nonetheless many impediments to beat, and we hope to try this over the following few days and hours – weeks perhaps,” he mentioned.
Witkoff met with Putin for a number of hours forward of the Friday deadline imposed by Trump for Russia to conform to a ceasefire with Ukraine or face sanctions.
In line with a senior administration official, the assembly “went effectively” however secondary sanctions are nonetheless anticipated to be deployed towards Moscow this week.
Trump has expressed rising frustration with Putin over the battle, shortening the deadline for a ceasefire from 50 to 10 days as he mentioned he was “disillusioned” within the Russian chief.
Trump, in a social media submit on Wednesday, known as the assembly between Witkoff and Putin “extremely productive.”
“Nice progress was made! Afterwards, I up to date a few of our European Allies. Everybody agrees this Warfare should come to a detailed, and we are going to work in direction of that within the days and weeks to come back,” Trump wrote.
ABC Information’ Kelsey Walsh and Shannon Kingston contributed to this report.
