Trump, Putin Agree in Principle to UAE Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to hold a bilateral summit in the coming days, with the United Arab Emirates emerging as a likely venue. The meeting, the first in-person encounter between sitting U.S. and Russian presidents since 2021, follows productive discussions in Moscow between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin. The summit, initiated by the U.S., aims to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, though significant gaps persist between Russian and Ukrainian positions. Trump remains open to subsequent talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the Kremlin prefers to start with a bilateral format. European leaders and Zelenskyy have called for broader summit formats and emphasized the importance of a dignified peace and European involvement. The meeting comes as the U.S. increases pressure on Russia, including imposing new tariffs related to Russia's war economy.