Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Next article
Sources told the New York Times that the US president also intends to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Donald Trump plans to meet in person with Vladimir Putin as early as next week, according to a report, following talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian President in Moscow.
The US President then plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the New York Times, who cited two people familiar with the plan. The plans were disclosed in a call with European leaders, the newspaper reported.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump said Mr Witkoff had made “great progress” in a meeting with Putin, as Washington continued its preparations to impose secondary sanctions on Friday.
The US president, in a post on Truth Social, said he had briefed some European allies about the meeting, which was focused on ending the war.
“Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come,” he wrote.
Russian artillery shelling killed three people and injured four on Wednesday in the southeastern Ukrainian town of Nikopol, the regional governor said.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of Dnipropetrovsk region, said two men and a woman died in the attack.
Nikopol, lying on the Ukrainian-held north side of the Dnipro River in the region, frequently comes under Russian attack.
The RBK-Ukraine media outlet said the strike hit a car belonging to the state emergency services and one of the victims killed was an emergency worker.
Donald Trump plans to meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, according to the New York Times, who cited two people familiar with the plan.
The President then plans to meet with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the newspaper reported, adding that the plans were disclosed in a call with European leaders.
India accused the US of making “unjustified” and “unreasonable” threats after Donald Trump vowed to raise levies on the South Asian country for purchasing Russian oil.
The US president said on Monday that India was profiting from discounted Russian crude while disregarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Arpan Rai explains how much Russian oil India buys:
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said it appears that Russia is more inclined towards agreeing a ceasefire following their talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit in Moscow.
“It seems that Russia is now more inclined to a ceasefire. The pressure on them works. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details – neither us nor the US,” he said in the nightly address.
US president Donald Trump said Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Vladimir Putin was “highly productive”.
US envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow went well, a White House official said, but added that Washington still planned to proceed with secondary sanctions on Friday.
“The Russians are eager to continue engaging with the United States. The secondary sanctions are still expected to be implemented on Friday,” the official said.
Mr Witkoff met Mr Putin for around three hours on a last-minute mission to seek a breakthrough.
The Russian rouble and markets held their breath on Wednesday as they awaited the outcome of President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The rouble was flat at around 80 to the dollar, according to data compiled by LSEG based on over-the-counter quotes.
It weakened by 0.2% against China’s yuan at the Moscow Stock Exchange. Russia’s main stock market index was down 0.15%.
Many analysts believe that the rouble is overvalued and awaiting a trigger to weaken.
The Russian currency rallied by up to 45% against the dollar earlier this year, partly thanks to expectations of a thaw in the relationship between Russia and the US as well as hopes for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
Kremlin earlier said that Russia had developed an immunity to sanctions thanks to long experience. However, the latest round of US sanctions against a Russian bank, which handled payments for energy, imposed last year, led to the rouble’s slide.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in