President Donald Trump's deadline for Russia to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine has passed without significant movement from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The deadline was set as a warning that further sanctions would be imposed if an agreement was not reached.

Trump has shifted his approach regarding a potential meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated that it is no longer necessary for Putin to meet with Zelensky before engaging in discussions with him. “No, he doesn’t [have to meet with Zelensky],” Trump said when asked about the requirement. “They would like to meet with me, and I’ll do whatever I can to stop the killing.”

The president emphasized that the decision to reach a ceasefire is ultimately up to Putin. “It’s going to be up to him,” Trump remarked. “We’re going to see what he has to say. It’s going to be up to him. Very disappointed.”

If a ceasefire deal is not reached, additional sanctions against Russia are expected to take effect. Trump indicated that a summit with Putin could take place as early as next week, potentially in the United Arab Emirates. This follows a visit to Moscow by special envoy Steve Witkoff, who reported a productive meeting with Putin.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump noted, “My Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, just had a highly productive meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 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 situation remains fluid as the international community watches for any developments in the ongoing conflict.