The Kremlin and the White House almost simultaneously announced an agreement on an urgent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump next week, reflecting both parties’ desire to overcome what Moscow described as a “deadlock” following the US warning to Moscow and a decline in communication channels between the two sides.

The announcement came after Putin’s meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow the day before yesterday, followed by cautious optimism and skepticism among US policymakers and analysts about its ability to stop the Ukrainian war.

Putin directly addressed the possibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation, which Trump seems enthusiastic about, while the Kremlin opposes it.

Putin said the meeting with Zelensky is possible but added: “I have repeatedly said that I do not oppose it in general, it is possible, but certain conditions must be prepared for that. Unfortunately, we are still far from preparing such conditions.”

The new agenda items might include joint investments in rare metals. Russian circles mentioned that Moscow might grant American companies rights to joint operations in the field of rare metals, not only inside Russia but also in the Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow in southeastern Ukraine.