The Wall Street Journal reported the information, citing a senior European diplomat and a Ukrainian official.According to the outlet’s sources, Putin could offer to withdraw Russian troops from some areas of Ukraine in exchange for formal recognition of Russia’s control over other occupied regions.Eager to broker a deal, Trump may push Ukraine and its allies to accept this proposal.However, Kyiv and most European governments are expected to strongly reject such an arrangement. This could play into Putin’s hands, as Trump, who, according to sources, rarely engages with the detailed complexities of peace negotiations, might then accuse Ukraine of prolonging the conflict.Consequently, Trump could halt intelligence and military aid to Ukraine and potentially withdraw the U.S. from the diplomatic process altogether, leaving Moscow and Kyiv to continue what Trump has long referred to as “Biden’s war.”Still, those close to Trump believe he will persist in pursuing “the ultimate deal” early in his presidency, with its outcome ultimately defining his legacy.Marc Short, a senior White House aide during Trump’s first term, said that Trump wants to be the deal-maker and that this is his brand.BackgroundOn Wednesday, August 6, U.S. President Donald Trump's special representative, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow, where he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.Presidents of Ukraine and the U.S., Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, held a phone call with participation of European leaders.President Donald Trump could meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as early as next week, a White House official said on Wednesday.On August 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.The U.S. President will sit down for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but only if Putin first agrees to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.According to Axios, which was later confirmed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff was set to hold a video conference, with senior officials from Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK, Finland, and Italy joining. During the conversation, Witkoff was supposed to talk about his meeting with Vladimir Putin on August 6 and discuss further steps.Later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the conversation had taken place and that they had agreed to continue it the following day.U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not a prerequisite for negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.The Trump administration is working to set up talks between President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to sources in the White House.