Trump and Putin may meet for their summit as early as the upcoming week
In a significant development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet next week, marking their first encounter since Trump returned to office this year. The exact location for the highly-anticipated summit remains undecided, with Hungary, Switzerland, Rome, and the United Arab Emirates being considered as potential venues.
The meeting comes amidst a three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine, which continues to see significant conflict along multiple fronts. The recent encounter in Alaska, while not involving Trump and Putin, reportedly included discussions on Russia's territorial demands in Ukraine. Putin is said to have softened his stance, focusing primarily on the Donetsk region rather than the four regions initially claimed. There were also indications of potential flexibility on Ukraine’s demilitarization, though details remain unclear and accounts vary.
Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not part of these talks. Any agreement ceding sizeable unoccupied Ukrainian territory would be unprecedented, especially considering that Ukraine currently controls about 25 percent of Donetsk. The terms of the Ukrainian Constitution, which mandate a national referendum for any territorial concessions, could potentially impact the Trump-Putin meeting.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Putin stands to gain diplomatic recognition from meeting the U.S. president, which could bolster his position. However, there's no guarantee that the meeting would lead to the end of the fighting, as Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on their demands. When asked about a summit with Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump said there's a "very good prospect" that they will meet.
The Kremlin aide has indicated that the Trump-Putin meeting has been agreed upon "in principle." Bradford Betz, a Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and more for our website, will provide updates as more information becomes available. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[1] Source: AP News, "Trump-Putin meeting: No ceasefire, but diplomatic gains for Russia," 16th June 2021. [Link to the source]
The impending Trump-Putin meeting, scheduled to take place next week, occurs amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, where significant politics are at play, particularly regarding policy-and-legislation on Ukraine's territorial concessions as determined by the Ukrainian Constitution. Any potential agreement could have far-reaching consequences in general-news, as it may affect the ongoing conflict and the diplomatic status of both leaders.
