Trump: 'Very likely to meet Putin at a very early date'…A turning point for ceasefire mediation

On the 6th (local time), President Donald Trump of the United States openly mentioned plans to hold a summit with President Vladimir Putin of Russia at an early date.

At an event held at the White House where Apple Inc. announced its investment plans in the United States, President Trump responded to questions from reporters about when he would meet with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine by saying, "There is a high possibility that the summit will take place at a very early date."

Since returning to the White House last January, President Trump has had several phone calls with President Putin, but a face-to-face summit has not yet taken place.

On this day, The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing sources, that President Trump could meet with President Putin as early as next week and is planning a trilateral summit that also includes President Zelensky. According to the report, President Trump revealed these plans during calls with European leaders.

President Trump also posted on social media about the meeting between his special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Putin in Russia, describing it as "highly productive" and stating that there had been "significant progress."

In addition, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine commented, "It seems that Russia is now somewhat more willing to agree to a ceasefire."

Reporter Yonghyun Shin, Hankyung.com yonghyun@hankyung.com