Putin Holds Talks with BRICS Leaders Ahead of Potential Summit with Trump on Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a series of high-level calls on Friday with the leaders of China, India, and three former Soviet states, briefing them on his recent contacts with the United States regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The diplomatic flurry comes just days after Putin met in Moscow with Steve Witkoff, the envoy of US President Donald Trump, as discussions intensify over a possible peace agreement.

The Kremlin has indicated that a Putin-Trump summit could take place as early as next week, though no date, venue, or formal agenda has been confirmed.

Trump, who has been pushing for an end to the 3½-year-long conflict, set a Friday deadline for Moscow to agree to peace terms or face a new wave of sanctions—targeting not only Russia but also countries purchasing Russian exports.

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China and India, the largest buyers of Russian oil, are seen as key stakeholders in any resolution. In a phone conversation, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Washington, expressing support for efforts to achieve a political settlement to the Ukraine crisis, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

On Thursday, Putin also spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who offered his country’s “full support to peace initiatives” aimed at ending the war and establishing lasting stability. That same day, Putin hosted UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Moscow, hinting that the United Arab Emirates could serve as a neutral venue for the Russia-US summit.

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Russia, China, India, South Africa, and the UAE are all part of the BRICS alliance, a bloc Moscow views as a strategic counterbalance to US political and economic influence. With diplomatic momentum building, the coming days may prove pivotal in determining whether dialogue can bring the war in Ukraine closer to an end—or whether tensions will escalate further.

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