Nik Popli
President Donald Trump has given Russia until Friday to end its war in Ukraine or face “very severe tariffs” and a new wave of sanctions designed to cripple its oil trade and financial lifelines. Yet, as the deadline looms, there is little sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet Trump’s demands—and a growing sense among analysts that a breakthrough is unlikely.
In a statement to TIME on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump was “open” to meeting with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he seeks a peace agreement between the two leaders. “The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky,” Leavitt said. “President Trump wants this brutal war to end.”
Trump’s willingness to meet with Putin comes hours after his special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for about three hours as part of a last-ditch diplomatic effort to reach a ceasefire. No details of an outcome were announced, though a Russian official described the meeting as “successful” and added that "dialogue will prevail.” Trump praised the meeting, calling it “highly productive” and that “Great progress was made!”
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