American President Donald Trump makes his position clear on the possible meeting with Vladimir Putin: no face to face with the Kremlin leader without the certainty of a concrete agreement on the end of the war in Ukraine. Speaking fromAir Force One headed to Asia, Trump explained that he will also see Chinese president Xi Jinping, trusting in Beijing’s role as a key interlocutor. “I hope it helps us with Moscow,” he said, recalling that China has significantly reduced purchases of Russian oil after the recent sanctions imposed by Washington on energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft.
Diplomatic signals and new contacts between Washington and Moscow
Trump’s words come as Putin’s envoy to the United States, Kirill Dmitriev, met with American entrepreneur Steve Witkoff, raising the hypothesis of a possible dialogue between the two powers. «A solution is close – declared Dmitriev – and a meeting between the two leaders will take place, probably later». The Russian emissary said he was convinced that “the US president’s efforts will be successful”.
Meanwhile, however, the war in Ukraine continues. During the night, new Russian raids caused at least three deaths and ten injuries, with Volodymyr Zelensky once again asking the European Union to authorize the use of frozen assets Russians to support Kiev. The White House is also reportedly considering this hypothesis, along with further pressure measures on Moscow, including secondary sanctions that could target those who purchase Russian oil and gas. If approved by Congress, the tariffs could reach 500%, with a significant economic impact for the Kremlin.
Dmitriev downplays the effect of sanctions
In an interview with CNN, Dmitriev downplayed the effects of the US sanctions, claiming that “American motorists will pay the price, with the increase in the cost of petrol”. He then reiterated the Russian position: «Russia wants a definitive solution. A ceasefire is temporary and risks being violated.”
The emissary also defined Zelensky’s move to open up to a possible freezing of the conflict along the front line as “important”. He then denied that Moscow hits civilian targets, saying that “every death is a tragedy” and that Russia “wants to end the war as soon as possible.”
New victims in Ukraine
Despite the conciliatory declarations, the attacks continue to claim victims. In Dnipropetrovsk two people were killed and seven others injured in a bombing, while new Russian drones also hit Kiev, causing at least eight injuries. The Kremlin’s offensive shows no signs of stopping, while international diplomacy is still trying to find a glimmer of hope for a lasting peace.