A meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could take place as early as next week, according to a White House official. Special envoy Steve Witkoff recently returned from Moscow, where he communicated to Trump that Putin is interested in a meeting.

Trump has expressed willingness to meet with Putin, provided that the Russian leader also meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Witkoff's discussions with Putin lasted several hours and were aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting comes ahead of a Friday deadline set by Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face potential sanctions.

A senior administration official stated that Witkoff's meeting with Putin was productive, although secondary sanctions against Russia are still anticipated this week. Trump described the meeting as "highly productive" in a social media post, stating, "Great progress was made! Afterwards, I updated some of our European Allies. Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come."

The White House has not officially confirmed the meeting but acknowledged that the Russians are eager for a discussion. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that the President is open to meeting both Putin and Zelenskyy, emphasizing Trump's desire to end the conflict.

During a recent press conference, Trump hinted at the possibility of a summit between Zelenskyy and Putin, saying, "There's a good chance there will be a meeting very soon," while also expressing caution due to past disappointments.

Trump has set a deadline of August 8 for Russia to cease its military actions in Ukraine, threatening to impose "stiff tariffs" if the conflict continues. He has indicated that secondary tariffs of up to 100% could be applied to countries trading with Russia, particularly in the energy sector. This would mark the first time such tariffs have been enacted against Russian trading partners.

As tensions continue, Witkoff's recent visit to Moscow reflects ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to persuade Russia to halt its military operations in Ukraine. This story is developing, and further updates are expected.