Trump anticipates a highly probable near-term encounter with Putin - Trump anticipates imminent encounter with Putin, holding a positive outlook
In a statement made in Washington on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted several obstacles that could potentially hinder a meeting between current US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Rubio's concerns centre around the sincerity of the meeting, given Russia's ongoing aggression and the unresolved issues surrounding territorial concessions in eastern Ukraine. He believes that such a meeting might be used by Russia to legitimize its actions or push for international recognition of Russian-controlled territories without addressing the core conflict or respecting Ukraine's sovereignty.
The proposed meeting, scheduled for an unspecified date and location, would be the first between US and Russian leaders since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Russia has proposed a cease-fire that involves significant territorial concessions to Russia, which is controversial and seen by many as undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Trump has expressed a desire for the brutal war in Ukraine to end and has also shown a willingness to meet with both President Putin and President Selenskyj. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had previously met with the Kremlin chief in Moscow, but no details about the conversation were provided by Trump.
Despite the positive conversation between Trump's special envoy and the Kremlin chief, Rubio emphasized that many obstacles still need to be removed before a potential meeting between Trump and Putin. He expressed hope that progress towards this meeting would be made in the coming days, hours, or possibly weeks.
Rubio did not specify who these obstacles may involve or what they might entail. The ongoing work towards a potential meeting between Trump and Putin was not mentioned as being related to any specific issue or topic, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump has been exerting some pressure on Russia through various means, but questions remain about how he views the meeting — whether as a genuine negotiation or as a partnership move with Putin despite criticism. The Russian side has expressed a desire to meet with Trump, but no details about the potential meeting have been finalized.
[1] References: - [1] "Trump's Meeting with Putin: What's at Stake?" The Washington Post, 14 August 2025. URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trumps-meeting-with-putin-whats-at-stake/2025/08/14/55374e66-3690-49e8-a60d-8121f1dd5466/
[1] Politics: The ongoing negotiations for a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have prompted concerns from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, given the unresolved issues surrounding Ukraine's territorial integrity.
[2] General News: As Rubio emphasizes the necessity of addressing these obstacles, there are speculations about a possible meeting between Trump and Putin for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The likelihood of such a meeting happening in the near future, possibly within weeks, is gaining traction.
