Although Donald Trump told European leaders today in a call who plans to meet in person with Vladimir Putin soon to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine, his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, denied that this is an immediate plan. Rubio noted that there is still "a lot to do" before a meeting between the two leaders takes place and that ends the war in Ukraine. "If the situation continues to advance, hopefully, there will be an opportunity for a meeting (between Trump) with Vladimir Putin and with President Zelensky very soon, hopefully in the near future. But obviously, there is still a lot to do before that happens," he said. Rubio said that in the coming days, contacts with the parties will continue to fine-tune the details of a peace agreement in Ukraine so that a meeting between Trump and Putin is "worth it."

The US Foreign Minister made these statements after the White House confirmed to local media that Trump intends to meet with Putin next week and then hold a three-way meeting that will include the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to Fox News, Putin reportedly expressed his willingness to meet with Trump during the meeting he held this Wednesday in Moscow with the White House special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Later, Trump announced his plans to organize the meeting with Putin during a call with Zelensky; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Next Friday marks the expiration of the ultimatum Trump imposed on the Kremlin to declare a truce in the fighting in Ukraine.

Both the United States and Russia described Wednesday's meeting between Putin and Witkoff as satisfactory, but the White House maintains its intention to impose secondary sanctions on trade with Russia if there is no agreement by Friday.

The international press is speculating that Moscow would be willing to suspend the air raids, but not the ground offensive of its troops in the Donbas and the northern border of Ukraine.