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Putin and Zelensky could meet ‘very soon’ – Trump
6 Aug, 2025 22:30
A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky could happen “very soon,” US President Donald Trump has claimed.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, hours after US special envoy Steve Witkoff met for talks with Putin in Moscow, Trump was asked to comment on a potential summit between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.
“There is a very good prospect that they will, and we haven’t determined where, but we had some very good talks with President Putin today,” Trump said.
“There is a good chance there could be a meeting very soon.” Asked how close a peace deal could be, he declined to speculate.
“I don’t want to say, I’ve been disappointed before” the US president said.
Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the recent talks give Washington a “better understanding” of the conditions under which Moscow would agree to a peace deal.
If the Russian and Ukrainian positions can be brought closer, a trilateral summit could follow, he told Fox Business.
“I think there’s the opportunity for the president to have a meeting that includes both Putin and Zelensky to try to close this thing out,” Rubio said.
Trump intends to hold a personal meeting with Putin as early as next week, the New York Times reported after Witkoff’s Moscow visit, citing two anonymous sources.
Moscow has praised Wednesday’s talks as “a very useful and constructive conversation.”
https://www.rt.com/news/622590-trump-very-good-witkoff-putin/
Trump tells team to arrange Putin meeting ‘fast’ – CNN
7 Aug, 2025 06:47
US President Donald Trump has told his team to “move fast” to arrange a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, CNN reported on Wednesday.
Putin proposed a direct meeting with Trump during talks earlier in the day with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, the news outlet said, citing two anonymous sources in the White House.
The US president’s aides reportedly began planning for a potential summit immediately.
Though these types of high-level meetings typically require preparation time, “Trump was urging his team to move fast,” CNN wrote.
No location has been confirmed, but discussions could begin as early as next week, the outlet added.
Earlier in the day, Trump praised the outcome of the Putin-Witkoff talks, saying there is “a very good prospect” for a meeting between the Russian president and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
“There is a good chance there could be a meeting very soon,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Wednesday that this could come in the form of a trilateral summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, provided peace talks on the Ukraine conflict go well.
The New York Times also reported that the US president intends to meet soon with his Russian counterpart.
Trump unveiled the plan in a recent phone call with European leaders, in which he announced plans to hold a trilateral summit alongside Putin and Zelensky after a one-on-one with the Russian leader, the NYT wrote on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.
Moscow has not yet confirmed any plans for a meeting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said time is needed to normalize US-Russia relations before a summit can occur.
Relations between Washington and Moscow fell to an “unprecedented level” under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, leaving many points of contention, he told TASS on Wednesday.
https://www.rt.com/news/622593-trump-putin-meeting-fast-cnn/
Zelensky says ‘it’s time to end the war’
7 Aug, 2025 11:18
Ukraine is open to talks with Russia on settling the conflict, including in a format with a third party, Vladimir Zelensky has said.
In a post on Telegram on Thursday, the Ukrainian leader said he had spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss ending the conflict in what he described as “a dignified peace” that would “determine the security conditions for Europe for decades.”
He also reported a discussion the previous day which focused on “potential formats for meetings for peace at the level of leaders in the near future,” including two bilateral and one trilateral framework.
“Ukraine is not afraid of meetings and expects the same bold approach from the Russian side. It is time to end the war,” he said.
His comments come after a visit to Moscow by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who held talks for three hours on the Ukraine conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian officials called the conversation “constructive.” The White House said it produced better-than-expected results.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov also announced that Putin could meet with Trump as early as next week, without revealing the venue.
He said that while Witkoff mentioned the possibility of trilateral talks, the issue was not specifically discussed.
Zelensky has on numerous occasions called for a face-to-face meeting with Putin. Moscow has not ruled out the possibility in principle, but said it must be preceded by extensive expert groundwork.
Russia has also expressed serious concern over the Ukrainian leader’s legal authority to enter into binding agreements.
Zelensky’s presidential term expired in 2024, but he did not call new elections, citing martial law. Moscow has since labeled him “illegitimate” and insisted that legal authority in Ukraine lies with the parliament.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622615-zelensky-declares-time-end-war/
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-says-he-had-productive-call-with-trump-ahead-ceasefire-deadline-2025-08-05/
Putin-Trump meeting could happen next week – Kremlin
7 Aug, 2025 08:19
Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet his US counterpart, Donald Trump, as soon as next week, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told journalists on Thursday. A venue for the summit has already been agreed, he added.
Expectations for an in-person meeting between Putin and Trump increased following a visit to Moscow by US special envoy Steve Witkoff this week, which the White House described as producing better results than expected.
Ushakov said details of the proposed meeting would be revealed later, but an agreement in principle has already been reached that it would happen soon.
Witkoff also proposed the idea of a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, which Moscow declined to comment on, according to Ushakov.
Previous reports in the US media said the Trump administration was looking for a meeting with Putin next week and had proposed extending an invitation to Zelensky.
The Ukrainian leader claims he needs to talk directly with the Russian president to make progress in the peace talks.
Witkoff visited Moscow on Wednesday for what Trump later called “highly productive” talks with Putin and other Russian officials.
In previous weeks, the US president had expressed frustration with a lack of progress in peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, and threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russia and its international trade partners.
Moscow has repeatedly stated it would prefer a swift, peaceful resolution of the conflict in a way that addresses its core issues.
According to Russian officials, obstacles to peace include unrealistic demands by Ukraine and the commitment by Kiev’s European backers to provide continued weapons deliveries.
Officials in Kiev have indicated that they agreed to resume direct talks with Russia in May not to appear an opponent of Trump’s mediation efforts.
Ukraine is seeking further Western military aid and sanctions on Russia, claiming that this could turn the tide on the battlefield in Kiev’s favor.
Russia has accused Zelensky of pursuing an armed conflict “to the last Ukrainian” for personal ambition.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622601-putin-trump-meeting-agreed-moscow/
Putin-Trump meeting could be historic – Russian envoy
7 Aug, 2025 10:24
The upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump has the potential to be a historic event, according to senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev.
The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that preparations for direct talks have advanced to the point that a venue has been selected. The meeting could be held as early as next week.
Dmitriev, an economic adviser to Putin and key figure in the push to normalize bilateral ties with the US, shared the development on X. “This can be a historic meeting,” he wrote, adding a dove emoji. “Dialogue will prevail.”
On Wednesday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Russia to meet with Putin in what Trump later described as an unexpectedly positive round of discussions.
Trump previously threatened to introduce additional sanctions due to a perceived lack of progress in his efforts to broker a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
Since taking office in January, Trump, who describes himself as a “president of peace,” has relied on economic and military pressure to address several escalating international disputes.
However, his campaign pledge to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours has proven unrealistic. He has since acknowledged that the situation is far more complex and challenging than he originally suggested.
Moscow has expressed a desire to address the root causes of the conflict, opposing any scenario that would freeze the conflict in its current state. Putin has stated that his government prefers to achieve its objectives through peaceful means.
Kiev has consistently rejected Moscow’s proposed settlement terms and continues to call for Western military support and further sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian officials argue that these measures could halt or even reverse Russian advances on the battlefield.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622607-putin-trump-historic-summit/
https://twitter.com/kadmitriev/status/1953371181974753345
US has made ‘acceptable offer’ – Kremlin aide
7 Aug, 2025 12:13
Russia has received an “acceptable” offer from the US on settling the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said, following a visit by US special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ushakov commented on the talks between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Moscow had received a “proposal from the Americans” which it is ready to consider, without providing further details.
Ushakov also noted that Russia and the US have topics to discuss, while agreeing with the view of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who earlier described the talks as “a good day.”
Rubio had added that “we still have a ways to go, but we’re certainly closer [to peace] today than we were yesterday – when we weren’t close at all.”
The Kremlin aide earlier called the Putin-Witkoff meeting “business-like and constructive,” adding that “Russian-American ties could develop according to a completely different, mutually beneficial scenario,” as compared to the long-running tensions over Ukraine.
He also revealed that Putin could meet Trump as soon as next week. The Russian president later suggested that the United Arab Emirates could potentially host the summit.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622622-us-acceptable-offer-kremlin/
Teens recruited by Kiev busted over plot to murder Russian officer – FSB (video)
7 Aug, 2025 07:27
Two teenagers have been detained in Novosibirsk, central Russia for attempting to poison a Russian military officer on orders from Ukrainian special services, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported.
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said the minors were recruited online through a site offering quick money and were later coordinated remotely from Ukraine.
They received instructions via Telegram, the FSB said, as confirmed by data found on their seized devices.
The teens were later given three containers of toxic chemicals meant to cause acute heart failure and possibly death, which they applied to the door handle and side mirror of the officer’s car. The FSB did not disclose the names of the substances.
The joint operation by the FSB and Russia’s Investigative Committee prevented the assassination attempt, and the officer was unharmed. A criminal case has been opened for attempted murder committed by a group.
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Kiev has repeatedly targeted Russian military personnel and public figures, often using sabotage.
The FSB regularly reports that it has thwarted these types of plots and has warned citizens to stay alert, noting that Ukrainian intelligence recruits through websites, social media, and messaging platforms.
Earlier, the FSB reported the arrest of agents tied to Ukraine’s Security Service and Main Intelligence Directorate, which allegedly planned to kill workers at a defense plant in Yaroslavl using toxic chemicals placed in vehicle air ducts.
Other reported plots included poisoning food and drinks at an air defense pilot celebration in Armavir and contaminating humanitarian food supplies intended for Russian troops.
The suspects in all three plots were charged with preparing acts of terrorism and committing treason.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622595-teens-officer-poison-plot-fsb/
IDF orders evacuation of two Gaza City neighborhoods after rocket fired from area
August 7, 2025, 7:52 pm
The IDF issues a fresh evacuation warning for Palestinians still residing in Gaza City’s Daraj and Tuffah neighborhoods, after a rocket was launched from the area at southern Israel this afternoon.
“The IDF continues to operate with extreme force wherever terror activity is taking place and rockets are fired at Israel,” says the military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, in a post on X, attaching a map of the area that is to be evacuated.
“Anyone who has not yet evacuated the area should evacuate immediately, and head south toward al-Mawasi, for your own safety,” he adds.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-orders-evacuation-of-two-gaza-city-neighborhoods-after-rocket-fired-from-area/
https://twitter.com/AvichayAdraee/status/1953496235773399198
Interceptor missile fired near Gaza after ‘false identification,’ IDF says
August 7, 2025 8:27 pm
An interceptor missile was launched a short while ago near the border with the Gaza Strip, following the identification of a target, the IDF says.
The target was then confirmed to have been a “false identification,” meaning not a threat, the army adds.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/interceptor-missile-fired-near-gaza-after-false-identification-idf-says/
Netanyahu discusses full military Gaza takeover with Israeli security cabinet
Updated: AUGUST 7, 2025 20:35
The Israeli Security Cabinet convened to discuss a plan for the full military occupation of the Gaza Strip, prompted by Hamas’s ongoing refusal to engage in negotiations over a hostage deal or show any flexibility.
The plan, proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deliberated in the meeting, includes encircling Gaza City and relocating around one million residents to the southern part of the strip.
Following this, a senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the military would “target the terrorist strongholds in the city,” with operations later expanding to the central refugee camps.
Israel, with support from the United States and additional international partners, intends to flood Gaza with humanitarian aid, up to four times the current volume.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the United States plans to open 16 humanitarian aid centers, modeled after those operated by the Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The operation is expected to take at least six months. A senior official told The Post that Netanyahu is “determined that this is the only path to defeating Hamas.”
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, the Prime Minister stated: “We intend to militarily take over the entire Gaza Strip, dismantle Hamas, and transfer control to another authority.”
Regarding whether the Trump administration supports the move, a US official told The Post that “Israel is to decide what it needs to do for its own security.”
The prevailing assessment in Israel is that Hamas currently has no interest in a deal. However, several Cabinet ministers who spoke with The Post voiced concerns that if Hamas were to suddenly propose a framework for a hostage deal, military operations in Gaza could be halted.
“We demand that the operation to take over the Strip continue until completion, regardless of any proposal Hamas might make. Only by proving we are committed to full military action will Hamas be pressured into releasing the hostages,” one minister said.
On Thursday, Netanyahu held meetings with ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir. Meanwhile, President Isaac Herzog spoke with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to “express support” amid recent criticism claiming he has not been aggressive enough.
IDF chief voices opposition to complete occupation of Gaza Strip
Zamir has voiced opposition to the full occupation plan, warning it could endanger the hostages. However, he also clarified that he would carry out any decision made by the Cabinet.
“A culture of disagreement is an integral part of the Jewish people’s history, and it is a vital component of the IDF’s organizational culture, both internally and externally,” said Zamir on Thursday.
“We will continue to express our professional opinions without fear, objectively, independently, and with professionalism. That is also what we expect from our subordinates. This is where the responsibility lies, on this very table.”
Zamir emphasized that the overarching goal of the military campaign in Gaza is to “bring about the collapse of Hamas.”
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-863598