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.
“Properly, look, I do not wish to say it is — I have been dissatisfied earlier than with this one,” he answered.
However he mentioned there is a “excellent prospect” of a summit between. Putin and Zelenskyy.
“Properly, there is a – an excellent prospect that they are going to,” he mentioned. “And we’ve not decided the place, however we had some excellent talks with President Putin immediately. And, there’s an excellent probability that we may very well 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 probability 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 Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and whether or not Putin made some form of concession that he hasn’t been keen 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 Trump mentioned it was too quickly to know.
“I can not reply the query but. I am going to let you know, in a matter of weeks, perhaps much less. However we have made a whole lot of progress,” Trump mentioned.
He wouldn’t weigh in on whether or not they’re near a deal as he has been “very dissatisfied” earlier than.
When Witkoff returned from Moscow on Wednesday, he relayed to President Trump that Putin want 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
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 nicely” 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 “dissatisfied” within the Russian chief.
Trump, in a social media publish 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 Struggle should come to an in depth, and we are going to work in the direction of that within the days and weeks to return,” Trump wrote.
ABC Information’ Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
