Putin–Trump Summit Faces Temporary Delay as Moscow Signals Steady Progress in Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy

Putin–Trump Summit Faces Temporary Delay as Moscow Signals Steady Progress in Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy

The anticipated meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President Donald Trump has been put on hold for the moment, but both sides remain actively engaged in efforts to finalize arrangements for the high-profile summit, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

Ushakov disclosed that while the date has been temporarily postponed, channels of communication between Washington and Moscow are fully open, and discussions regarding the summit’s agenda and logistics are ongoing. He emphasized that the political will of both leaders will ultimately outweigh any technical or procedural hurdles, noting that if Putin and Trump reach a mutual agreement on convening, most of the remaining obstacles “will become secondary.”

The Kremlin aide provided deeper insight into current diplomatic dynamics, highlighting robust dialogue between Russia and the United States concerning a potential settlement to the war in Ukraine. These discussions, he said, continue to be anchored on the understandings reached earlier in Anchorage — a framework Moscow views as a credible blueprint for long-term peace.

According to Ushakov, Washington has sent “numerous comments and signals” about Ukraine in recent weeks. While some elements are acceptable to Moscow and others remain contentious, the overarching Anchorage framework still forms the “foundation” of the ongoing talks. He stressed that the United States has not issued any official declaration nullifying or abandoning the Anchorage understandings, a point Russia interprets as confirmation that the document still carries diplomatic weight.

Ushakov further argued that opposition to the Anchorage framework is coming from actors determined to prolong the conflict instead of pursuing a negotiated settlement. These groups, he said, are motivated by geopolitical calculations that prioritize military escalation “to the last Ukrainian” rather than a sustainable peace agreement.

Moscow continues to insist that the Anchorage principles offer a balanced and realistic roadmap for resolving the conflict, combining security guarantees, phased de-escalation, and renewed dialogue between all parties involved. As the United States and Russia cautiously navigate their diplomatic differences, both sides appear to be exploring ways to prevent further deterioration of the situation while keeping open the possibility of future cooperation.

While the new date for the Putin–Trump meeting has not yet been announced, Ushakov’s remarks suggest that momentum is still building behind the scenes, and that the summit — whenever held — could serve as a pivotal moment in shaping the next phase of U.S.–Russia relations and determining the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict.