Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely posturing about being willing to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to drag out deadlines from President Donald Trump, who is threatening sanctions against Russia, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker said on Newsmax Friday.
“I’m not sure that it is in play,” Volker told Newsmax’s “Wake Up America” of a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. “I think that Putin is dangling this out there as a possibility because he wants to keep stretching out the deadlines.”
Trump has set specific deadlines for a Russian ceasefire, with the latest to expire today. The administration has indicated that sanctions and tariffs would follow if Moscow does not comply. Volker believes Putin’s gesture toward negotiations is superficial, designed to stall for time without altering the course of the war.
Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
