Russia Prepares for Trump-Putin Summit as US Ends Moscow’s Isolation

Kyiv: Russia has begun preparations for a face-to-face summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a dramatic shift in US foreign policy and a potential end to Moscow’s diplomatic isolation following its war in Ukraine.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed on Saturday that discussions are in the early stages, but the Kremlin is hopeful for broad talks on global issues, including the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

“The question is about starting to move towards normalizing relations between our countries, finding ways to resolve the most acute and potentially very, very dangerous situations, of which there are many—Ukraine among them,” Ryabkov told Russian state media.

However, he cautioned that extensive preparatory work is required before any formal meeting can take place.

US-Russia Envoys to Meet in Two Weeks

According to Ryabkov, US and Russian diplomats are set to meet within the next two weeks to lay the groundwork for the summit. The first official engagement between senior officials took place on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, where representatives from both nations agreed to work towards ending the war in Ukraine and improving diplomatic ties.

This high-level meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, marked a significant reversal from previous US policies that sought to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Following the talks, Rubio told the Associated Press (AP) that the two sides reached a preliminary agreement on three key objectives:

1. Restoring diplomatic staffing at respective embassies in Washington and Moscow.
2. Creating a high-level task force to support Ukraine peace talks.
3. Exploring opportunities for closer economic and diplomatic cooperation.

However, Rubio also emphasized that these discussions are only the beginning and that significant work remains before any concrete agreements can be finalized.

Lavrov, on the other hand, described the meeting as "very useful."

Zelenskyy and European Allies Express Concerns

Notably, no Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, raising concerns that Kyiv is being sidelined in the peace process.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy swiftly dismissed the talks, stating that Ukraine would not recognize any outcome from negotiations in which it did not participate. In response, Zelenskyy postponed his scheduled trip to Saudi Arabia, which was originally planned for last Wednesday.

European allies have also voiced concerns over being excluded from the discussions, particularly as the situation on the battlefield remains precarious. Ukrainian forces are gradually losing ground against more numerous and better-equipped Russian troops, nearly three years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion began.

A Shift in US Foreign Policy Under Trump

The developments mark a significant policy shift by the United States under President Donald Trump, whose administration has moved away from the firm pro-Ukraine stance adopted by previous US leadership.

Trump has repeatedly signaled his desire for a rapprochement with Moscow and has suggested that he could broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine. However, his recent remarks—stating that he had "very good talks" with Putin while downplaying Zelenskyy’s importance—have drawn criticism from both Kyiv and European allies.

The potential Trump-Putin summit could mark the beginning of a new chapter in US-Russia relations, but it also raises questions about the future of Western support for Ukraine and the broader geopolitical balance in Europe.

As Russia and the United States explore diplomatic avenues, the prospect of a Trump-Putin summit represents a pivotal moment in international relations. While Washington and Moscow seem eager to rebuild ties, Ukraine’s exclusion from the initial talks has sparked unease among its allies.

With US and Russian envoys set to meet in the coming weeks, the world will be closely watching whether these efforts lead to a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or further complicate the already fragile Ukraine conflict.