(MENAFN) The Kremlin announced on Thursday that a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is planned for the "coming days," with both sides having tentatively agreed on the venue. This would be the first face-to-face meeting between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021, as Trump seeks to facilitate an end to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Despite three rounds of direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv, no progress has been made toward a ceasefire, with both sides holding firmly to their positions in the more-than-three-year-long conflict. Trump indicated on Wednesday that he expects to meet Putin "very soon."

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the bilateral summit was agreed upon at the suggestion of the American side and that detailed planning is now underway. While the venue has been confirmed in principle, no location has been publicly disclosed, though next week has been targeted for the meeting.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and widespread destruction in eastern and southern Ukraine. Putin has repeatedly resisted calls from the US, Europe, and Kyiv for a ceasefire. In previous negotiations in Istanbul, Russian officials have demanded Ukraine withdraw from certain territories and renounce Western military support as conditions for halting its offensive. Moscow has also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy and stated that a direct meeting between the two leaders would only occur once peace terms are agreed.

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