Trump–Putin Meeting Rumors Spark Global Buzz – Could This Be the Turning Point in the Ukraine War?
As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds into its fourth year with no end in sight, a fresh round of high-stakes diplomacy is being planned. Former US President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in a new effort to push for a Ukraine ceasefire. But experts warn: don’t expect a peace deal anytime soon.
🔥 What's Happening?
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has led to thousands of deaths, massive destruction, and a geopolitical standoff with the West. Now, with the battlefield still raging and nightly drone and missile strikes hitting both Ukrainian and Russian targets, Trump is stepping back into the global spotlight.
"I'm here to get the war over with," Trump said this week. It’s a bold statement – but is it realistic?
🧨 Trump's Previous Peace Push: No Progress
Trump already tried to mediate three rounds of backdoor peace talks between May and July, but they didn’t bring Ukraine and Russia any closer. Despite his tough talk and promises of “ending the war in 24 hours,” the gap between Kyiv and Moscow remains massive.
According to a Russian document shown to Ukrainian negotiators in June, Putin's demands remain unchanged:
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Full recognition of Russian control over Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson
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Ukraine must demilitarize, adopt neutrality, and ban foreign military alliances
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Ukraine must hold new elections
Russian political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya put it bluntly: “Russia wants Kyiv to surrender.”
💣 Why the Talks May Go Nowhere
Despite agreeing to meet, Putin hasn’t budged from his conditions. In fact, he publicly confirmed last week that Russia’s goals, as outlined in June, are still the same.
So why meet Trump at all?
Some analysts believe it’s about dodging sanctions. Trump has threatened to slap secondary sanctions on Russia’s trading partners, and this meeting might be a way for the Kremlin to buy time or influence Trump’s stance.
Others say Putin sees an opportunity to persuade Trump directly — especially since Trump has been inconsistent in his views. He previously called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator,” and in 2018, he sided with Putin over US intelligence during their infamous Helsinki summit.
🤝 Will Zelensky Join the Table?
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, has floated the idea of a trilateral meeting with Zelensky and Putin. But so far, Putin has shown no interest in including Ukraine in direct talks.
This has sparked deep concerns in Kyiv.
Ukrainian MP Iryna Herashchenko warned that being left out of peace talks could be disastrous. "It's clear now that pressure for Ukraine to make territorial concessions is growing," she said. "Being absent at the table would be very dangerous."
Zelensky himself added, “Ukraine is not afraid of talks. We just want Russia to show the same courage.”
💬 So, Can Trump Actually Stop the War?
Unlikely – at least not yet.
Even if a Trump-Putin meeting takes place soon, the core issue remains: Russia’s demands are non-negotiable, and Ukraine refuses to give up any of its land.
Until both sides find common ground, no handshake or headline will end this war.
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