Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a significant development amid ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump is open to meeting both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even as the U.S. prepares to impose new secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian oil.
Trump’s Openness to Diplomacy
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated Wednesday that Trump is “open to meeting” Putin and Zelensky. This follows comments Trump posted on Truth Social claiming “major progress” had been made during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
According to two sources familiar with recent discussions, Trump has already informed European leaders that he intends to meet Putin soon potentially as early as next week, followed by a trilateral summit with Zelensky.
However, a senior White House official cautioned that organizing such a summit by next week would be challenging due to logistical and diplomatic complexities.
Sanctions Still Moving Forward
Despite signaling openness to diplomacy, Trump has approved a package of secondary sanctions targeting nations that continue to import Russian oil. These new measures are scheduled to take effect this Friday.
The sanctions include 100% tariffs on Russian oil imports and are intended to increase pressure on Moscow, whose oil and gas revenues account for nearly 25% of its federal budget.
Trump had reportedly given the Kremlin an ultimatum: agree to a ceasefire or face harsh economic penalties.
Putin–Witkoff Meeting: “Constructive and Productive”
The meeting between Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff lasted about three hours, according to Russian state media, and was described as “constructive” by both sides.
The Kremlin noted that Putin had conveyed key “signals” to the United States on the Ukraine issue and that similar signals had been received from Trump.
Reaction from Kyiv
President Zelensky, who held a phone call with Trump after the Putin-Witkoff meeting, said there were indications that Russia is now more inclined to consider a ceasefire. However, in his nightly video address, Zelensky cautioned: “Pressure on Russia is working, but we must not be deceived by the details neither we nor the United States.”
Trump had previously spoken with Zelensky before dispatching Witkoff, reportedly to coordinate expectations about potential sanctions and next steps.
President Trump is walking a diplomatic tightrope—ratcheting up economic pressure on Russia while signaling a willingness to personally engage in negotiations to end the war. His dual-track strategy involves tough new sanctions set to hit Russia’s oil exports and proposed summits with both Putin and Zelensky.
With growing international attention and internal momentum, the coming days could prove critical in determining whether this diplomatic opening yields a tangible shift toward peace—or further hardens positions.
