**US and Russia on the Brink of a Historic Meeting**
In a major breakthrough, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov announced on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet in the coming days. This would be the first summit between leaders of the two countries since 2021.
The news sent shockwaves through financial markets, with Russian stocks soaring over 5% and the rouble hitting a two-week high against the US dollar and China’s yuan. The meeting comes on the heels of Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, holding talks with Putin in search of a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war.
**A New Era for US-Russia Relations?**
Ushakov expressed optimism that the summit could mark a new era for US-Russia relations, saying “Russian-American relations can be built according to a completely different, mutually beneficial scenario, significantly different from how they have developed in recent years.” He noted that Trump’s envoy had proposed a three-way meeting involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but the Russian side chose to focus on preparing for a bilateral meeting with Trump.
The Putin-Witkoff talks were described as “businesslike and constructive” by Ushakov. Pro-Kremlin war blogger Yuri Podolyaka went further, saying that Putin had played a “masterful diplomatic game”, spinning Trump in a “carousel of negotiations”.
**A Positive Response from Russia**
The news has been met with enthusiasm in Moscow, where many see it as an opportunity to improve relations with the US and potentially ease tensions over Ukraine. However, not everyone is convinced, and some have expressed skepticism about Trump’s intentions.
**Other Developments**
In other news, Putin is set to meet the president of the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, a development that has been previously suggested as a possible venue for the summit. Meanwhile, Russian security official Sergei Shoigu met Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval on Thursday and told him Moscow was committed to strengthening the joint strategic partnership between the two countries.
**A Possible Breakthrough?**
The meeting between Putin and Trump could be a major breakthrough in resolving the Ukraine conflict, which has plunged relations between Russia and the US into deep crisis. If successful, it could pave the way for improved ties between the two nations and potentially even lead to a new era of cooperation on global issues.
Read More @ www.reuters.com
