Putin-Trump Summit Set; Zelenskyy Inclusion Sought

The Kremlin has confirmed an imminent summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to address the Ukraine war, with Trump insisting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must also be included. While a bilateral Putin-Trump meeting is agreed upon in principle, the possibility of a trilateral summit is under discussion, though Russian officials say conditions for direct talks with Zelenskyy are not yet met. Trump has threatened further sanctions on Russia and its oil buyers if no ceasefire progress occurs, reflecting his frustration with the stalemate and ongoing casualties. Zelenskyy has called on Putin to participate and stressed Ukraine's openness to talks, while European leaders and Zelenskyy express concern about excessive concessions to Russia and seek security guarantees. The announcement of the summit has triggered optimism in financial markets, with Russian stocks and the rouble rising. The war continues to cause heavy losses on both sides as negotiations remain uncertain.