President Donald Trump says his administration has already had “very serious” discussions with Russia about its war in Ukraine and that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin could soon take “significant” action toward ending the grinding conflict.

The Kremlin is working to influence US President Donald Trump, aiming to pressure him into accepting Vladimir Putin’s terms while elevating Putin’s global standing, according to a January 30 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russian President Vladimir Putin is starting 2025 with a bang. In a nod to U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire for a settlement in Ukraine, the Kremlin has announced its readiness for negotiations “without preconditions.

The Kremlin said on Monday it had yet to receive any signals from the United States about arranging a possible meeting between President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump, but remained ready to organise such an encounter.

Putin is ready, we are waiting for signals, everyone is ready," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Jan. 24.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have pointed out that the Kremlin is signalling efforts to pressure former US President Donald Trump into conceding to Vladimir Putin’s demands while attempting to elevate Putin’s status as Trump’s equal in global affairs.