U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very soon,” in what could mark a major diplomatic development aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said there was a strong likelihood of a meeting with Putin, following what he termed as “highly productive” negotiations in Moscow between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and senior Russian officials.

Trump did not specify a date or venue for the potential summit, but U.S. media reports including The New York Times and CNN suggest the meeting could take place as early as next week, possibly followed by trilateral talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The prospect of a high-level summit was reportedly discussed during a call between Trump, Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the leaders of Germany, Britain, and Finland. Ukrainian sources confirmed the discussions and welcomed the renewed diplomatic push, though they cautioned against premature optimism.

“There’s a good chance that there will be a meeting very soon,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. was committed to bringing the conflict to an end. On his Truth Social platform, Trump hailed the Moscow talks as a step forward, writing, “Great progress was made!” and emphasizing that all sides agree the war must come to an end.

However, despite the upbeat tone, U.S. officials confirmed that plans to impose “secondary sanctions” on Russia would still move forward in two days if no progress is made. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Kremlin had presented a ceasefire proposal, which now needs to be reviewed in consultation with Kyiv and European allies. He warned that although momentum was building, a Trump-Putin summit could still be “weeks away.”

Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov described the three-hour talks in Moscow as “useful and constructive,” noting that the two sides had exchanged “signals” on possible areas of agreement, though no specific details were disclosed.

The Kremlin, however, pushed back against Trump’s recent tariff threats particularly those targeting India over its continued purchase of Russian oil calling them “illegitimate.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and massive displacement, with Moscow demanding that Kyiv cede territory and cut ties with Western allies.

Zelensky has rejected those terms, instead calling for an immediate ceasefire and recently urging international partners to support regime change in Moscow.

As pressure mounts on all sides, Trump reiterated his earlier pledge that he could end the war within 24 hours of returning to office an assertion now being tested by the unfolding diplomatic maneuvering.