US President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Wednesday about the possibility of a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that could help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said there was a “very good prospect” of a meeting soon, following productive talks between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. While no breakthrough was announced, Trump remains hopeful a summit could happen within the next two weeks, potentially followed by trilateral talks including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump told European leaders during a recent call that he aims to meet with Putin as early as next week. According to White House officials, Putin himself suggested the meeting during his discussions with Witkoff. The White House said several locations are under consideration for the talks, with plans advancing quickly despite the usual complexities involved in arranging meetings between heads of state.
The Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the ministry had reassessed the risk analysis related to ASF and was reviewing the possibility of reallowing pork imports from Thailand, which were suspended in 2019.
The US has imposed secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, aiming to pressure Moscow to end the conflict, but Trump has signaled some impatience with the slow progress. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that in the coming days, the administration will decide whether to proceed with these sanctions. Russia’s oil and gas exports account for about a quarter of its government budget, so cutting off customers could significantly impact its war financing.
Following the Witkoff-Putin meeting, US officials said they now have a clearer understanding of what Russia might demand to agree to a ceasefire, a development the Kremlin described as “constructive and useful.” Russian state media reported that signals were exchanged between the leaders, with further details pending after Witkoff’s debrief to Trump.
Meanwhile, Zelensky, who spoke with Trump after the Moscow talks, expressed cautious optimism, saying Russia appears more inclined toward a ceasefire but warned against deception in any details.
The diplomatic efforts come amid a surge in Russian attacks on Ukraine. Overnight strikes killed at least six people, including two in a bombing of a recreation center in Zaporizhzhia, which Zelensky condemned as “cruelty aimed at instilling fear.” Another attack targeted a gas compressor station near Ukraine’s southern border, cutting off gas supply to hundreds of families ahead of the heating season.
In a separate move related to the conflict, the US State Department approved a $200 million deal allowing its partners to purchase military supplies for Ukraine, including support for heavy artillery. NATO allies have also pledged over $1 billion in arms to Kyiv through a coordinated initiative involving the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
As the war continues, Trump remains focused on ending the conflict, balancing pressure on Russia with diplomatic efforts to find a resolution.
