Russian officials have disclosed President Vladimir Putin is awaiting President Donald Trump’s invitation to meet and discuss potential avenues for ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
International media reported Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov disclosed President Putin “was waiting for signals” from President Trump to meet.
"Putin is ready. We are waiting for signals (from Washington). Everyone is ready. It is difficult to read the coffee grounds here,” said Peskov. “As soon as there is something, if there is something, we will inform you."
President Trump recently similarly signaled a willingness to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, threatening stiff sanctions if Russia resists.
While claiming he intends to negotiate in good faith to not “hurt Russia…whose Economy is failing,” Trump concomitantly warned the war’s continuation would leave him “no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia”
The US currently imposes a bevy of sanctions on diverse sectors of Russia’s economy.
According to Trump’s statements, such sanctions could expand if the Russia-Ukraine war continues.
Trump repeatedly promised a speedy end to the Russia-Ukraine war during the campaign trail, reiterating the war would have never happened had he been elected president.
“I think if we win, I think we’re going to get it resolved very quickly…I really think we’re going to get it,” said Trump during a New York summit with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky.
President Zelensky has reinforced Trump’s claims, expounding that Trump could be “decisive” in ending the Ukraine-Russia war.
Zelensky claimed President Trump’s “unpredictability” could be leveraged to help reach an end in the war during an interview with Ukrainian media.
“He’s very strong and unpredictable, and I would really like to see President Trump’s unpredictability apply to Russia,” said Zelensky.
Some European critics predict Trump’s approach would include imposing unfavorable conditions on Ukraine.
Conversely, others are more optimistic as they forecast Trump would threaten Putin with expanded US support for Ukraine lest Russia cease fighting.
