**Russia and US Set to Meet Amid Frustration with Ukraine War**
In a move that has sparked both hope and concern, the Kremlin announced on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in the coming days. The development comes as the US president is seeking a breakthrough to end the Ukraine war, which has been raging for over three years.
**A Deadline Looms**
Trump has threatened new sanctions against Russia and countries buying its exports from Friday if Putin doesn’t agree to end the conflict. This week, he imposed higher tariffs on India, another major buyer of Russian oil, and hinted at similar measures for China.
**Stock Market Reacts Positively**
The news sent Russia’s stock market soaring by as much as 5%, with investors hopeful that the meeting will lead to a normalization of the geopolitical situation. The rouble also gained against the US dollar and China’s yuan.
**Ukraine and Europe Concerned**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed concerns that Trump might try to force a deal on his country, which would be detrimental to Ukraine’s interests. He emphasized that Europe must be involved in any peace process, citing the war’s impact on the continent.
“Europe is not just our neighbor; we are already in negotiations on EU accession,” Zelenskiy said. “Therefore, Europe must be a participant in the relevant processes.”
**Russia Seeks Equal Footing**
Mykola Bielieskov of the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Kyiv saw the announcement as an attempt by Russia to create the impression that it is being treated on an equal footing with other nations.
“The Kremlin will continue to drag out time, using the very fact of meetings as proof of openness to negotiations without any concessions,” he said.
**Meeting Details Still Unclear**
The location for the meeting has not been confirmed, with Putin suggesting the UAE as a possible venue. Trump could meet Putin as soon as next week, according to a White House official.
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