Russia’s pro-war Telegram channels are abuzz with commentary following news of a planned meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov announced on August 7 that preparations were underway for an in-person meeting of the two leaders “in the coming days.” The announcement came a day after Trump envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow. While Ushakov claimed the initiative came from the American side, the White House said it was Putin who had proposed the tête-à-tête. Reactions to the news from Russia’s pro-war pundits ranged from praise to skepticism. Still, most prominent Z-channel commentators appear to agree that the meeting is unlikely to lead to a “major breakthrough” or a ceasefire. Here’s what Russia’s pro-war bloggers had to say about the plans.
The first reactions to news of an impending Trump–Putin meeting from Russia’s pro-war bloggers came on August 6, shortly after Trump called Witkoff’s conversation with the Russian president “highly productive.”
“In my view, what Vladimir Putin pulled off was nothing short of a masterclass in diplomacy,” wrote pro-war blogger Yury Podolyaka. “Very few people these days know how to navigate their way out of a difficult situation like that.”
Still, judging by their commentary, many Z-bloggers don’t seem to expect much from the planned meeting. The hawkish Telegram channel Military Informant described it as “likely the last attempt to buy time.” While the post predicted the meeting would be “epochal,” it warned against expecting any “major breakthrough” on the war in Ukraine.
“So far, Zelensky’s strategy of going along with every U.S. idea has won the sympathy of the American president for Ukraine, so the upcoming Putin–Trump meeting may be the last chance to shift the situation,” the channel wrote.
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Russian propagandist and military blogger Alexander Kots likewise wrote that no “fateful decisions” about Ukraine should be expected right now. He said it was important for Trump to hear directly — “not from [his wife] Melania, and not from television” — about the situation in Ukraine, and how the war could quickly be brought to an end “with Russia’s interests taken into account.” “The recipe is simple,” Kots wrote. “We’re not even asking for help. Just step aside and don’t interfere.”
As for U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments that Trump is still weighing whether to impose new secondary sanctions on Russia — despite what he called a positive meeting between Putin and Witkoff — Z-bloggers responded with skepticism. “Russia’s army is engaged in prolonged offensive operations. More and more of our [drones] are filling the skies. Donald can’t really scare Moscow with anything right now — and he has nothing to offer, either,” wrote the pro-war Telegram channel Two Majors.
As for where the meeting should take place, some suggested countries friendly to Moscow. “Personally, I think the best location [for the Trump–Putin meeting] is the Zapad military drills in Belarus,” wrote the pro-war Telegram channel Starshe Eddy. “Good people, great atmosphere — you could calmly sit down and talk about how to quickly achieve all the objectives of the and turn the page.”
The Zapad exercises are set to take place this September. Ushakov told reporters that while the location for the meeting had already been agreed upon, it would be announced later.
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