On August 7, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not currently feasible. Putin said the necessary conditions for such talks have not yet been created, despite Zelenskyy's repeated willingness. Putin clarified he is not opposed to a meeting in principle but emphasized it can only happen at a "final phase" of negotiations, which Moscow does not believe has been reached.
This comes amid a proposal from the United States for a possible trilateral summit involving Presidents Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said this option was only "mentioned" by the American side and not concretely discussed. Putin expressed that the immediate focus is on preparing a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, preparations for a Trump-Putin summit are advancing, with an agreement in principle to meet "in the coming days." The United Arab Emirates has been suggested by Putin as a suitable venue for the meeting. This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders during Trump's second term. Trump recently expressed optimism about the talks but tempered expectations about a breakthrough.
Separately, Zelenskyy continues to push for direct talks with Putin and is coordinating with European leaders on next steps toward peace and Ukraine's EU path.
Additionally, Ukrainian drone units reported a successful strike on an oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished. This reflects ongoing military actions and tension despite diplomatic maneuvering.