**US and Russia to Hold First Summit Since 2021**
After a four-year gap, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in the coming days. This is according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, who announced the news on Thursday.
The meeting, which will be at the highest level, was agreed upon by both sides after American envoys met with Putin’s team. However, details about the location and agenda of the summit remain unclear. Putin is currently in the United Arab Emirates to meet their president, but it’s possible that this could be the venue for the Trump-Putin meeting.
**A New Era in US-Russia Relations?**
This development marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two countries. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, ties have been strained, with no summit taking place since Putin and Joe Biden met in Geneva in June 2021. The war in Ukraine has created deep tensions between the US and Russia.
Trump, who has been trying to mend relations with Russia, has taken a mixed approach towards Putin. While he has praised the Russian leader’s “strong leadership,” he has also condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine. With this meeting, Trump hopes to find common ground with Putin and possibly even involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
**Russia Welcomes the Meeting**
The Kremlin is optimistic about the upcoming summit, emphasizing its focus on a productive meeting between Trump and Putin. “We propose, first of all, to focus on preparing for a bilateral meeting with Trump,” Ushakov said. The Russian side has also rejected proposals for a three-way meeting involving Zelenskiy.
**Financial Markets React**
The news of the summit sent Russia’s stock market index soaring by 4.5%. While this is a positive sign, it remains to be seen how investors and global leaders will react to the announcement.
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