“We have many friends who are ready to help us organize such events. One of our friends is the president of the UAE,” Putin said.
On Aug. 6, Axios reported that Putin had suggested the U.S.-Russia summit during his meeting with Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Moscow.
On Aug. 6, Trump told European leaders in a telephone conversation that he wanted to meet with Putin as soon as next week, hoping to hold a trilateral summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy afterward.
According to a White House official, Trump urged his aides to begin planning immediately, a process that normally requires significant time.
State Secretary Marco Rubio acknowledged that "a lot has to happen" before a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy.
"There are still many impediments to overcome, and we hope to do that in the next few days and hours," he said, adding that the meeting between Putin and Witkoff helped the U.S. understand better the Russian conditions for ending the war.