Trump Open to Another Putin Summit, but Only When a Ukraine Peace Deal Is Within Reach

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signalled that he is willing to hold another summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but stressed that such a meeting should take place only when Moscow is prepared to work towards a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said he believed Putin would agree to meet with him again. However, he made clear that he does not want another high-profile meeting without a realistic prospect of progress.

“He’d do it. I want it, but I want to do it when we’re ready to do a peace deal,” Trump said when asked whether Putin would be willing to meet again.

The comments come as Washington continues to push for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, while Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on several fundamental issues. The Kremlin has previously maintained that its position on the conditions for a potential peace agreement has not changed.

A different approach to diplomacy

Trump’s latest remarks suggest that he wants a future summit to have a clear purpose: achieving a peace agreement rather than simply maintaining diplomatic contact.

The U.S. president also emphasised his desire for improved relations with both Russia and Ukraine, arguing that better relations could eventually create opportunities for broader economic cooperation.

The idea of another Trump-Putin meeting is particularly significant because the two leaders have already held high-level talks aimed at finding a way to end the war. Their previous summit in Alaska did not produce a signed ceasefire or final peace agreement, although both sides described the discussions as meaningful.

Moscow’s position remains crucial

The biggest obstacle remains the gap between Russian and Ukrainian positions. While Trump has repeatedly presented himself as a leader capable of bringing the two sides closer together, Russia has continued to pursue its objectives on the battlefield.

At the same time, Ukraine is strengthening its military cooperation with European countries. Kyiv announced this week that it is finalising a major drone agreement with Germany involving the joint development of drones, missiles and related technologies.

What could happen next?

A new Trump-Putin summit could become one of the most important diplomatic events of the year if negotiations begin to produce concrete results. However, Trump’s comments indicate that he is not currently interested in meeting simply for the sake of another summit.

For now, the key question is whether Moscow and Kyiv can narrow their differences enough to create the conditions Trump says are necessary for another meeting.

If that happens, a second Trump-Putin summit could once again put the future of the war — and the wider security of Europe — at the centre of global attention.