Vladimir Putin’s announcement that he is prepared to meet the US president came on the eve of a White House deadline for Moscow to show progress in ending the war or face sanctions.
Donald Trump has rowed back on an earlier claim that he will only meet with Vladimir Putin if Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also at the summit — as a US deadline for Moscow to avoid further sanctions arrives.
The Russian president said on Thursday that he hoped to meet the US leader next week, with the summit potentially taking place in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr Putin’s announcement came on the eve of a White House deadline for Moscow to show progress towards ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine or suffer additional economic sanctions.
Asked on Thursday if his deadline for Friday would hold, Mr Trump said of Mr Putin: «It’s going to be up to him. We’re going to see what he has to say. It’s going to be up to him. Very disappointed.»
Asked if Mr Putin needed to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in order to meet him, Mr Trump said: «No, he doesn’t.»
Sky News’ US correspondent David Blevins said it was «very difficult to gauge the prospect for a meeting», with the last few days having left a number of questions unanswered — notably whether Russia is really more inclined to a ceasefire, and whether Mr Putin is ready to sit down with Mr Zelenskyy.
