50,000 Russian troops gather on Ukraine’s northern border while Trump plans to meet with Russian and Ukrainian leaders for the second time

Approximately 50,000 troops have been gathered by Russian President Vladimir Putin near the northern border of Ukraine, despite efforts made by both the U.S. and Ukraine to persuade Moscow to engage in constructive ceasefire discussions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a caution that Putin is gearing up for a significant offensive during the summer, with the objective of displacing Ukraine’s troops from the Kursk region of Russia. Additionally, there are intentions to initiate a new invasion into Ukraine’s Sumy region, which is a mere 200 miles away from the capital city of Kyiv.

Zelenskyy has reiterated his willingness to engage in direct talks with Putin. He has even proposed the idea of a trilateral meeting involving President Donald Trump if Putin prefers not to participate in a one-on-one discussion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, on May 16. (Ercin Erturk/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The movement of Russian troops comes as Putin looks to create a roughly 6-mile wide “buffer zone,” which Moscow reportedly has been attempting to carry out since 2024, but which was thwarted by Ukraine’s Kursk invasion. 

Implementing a buffer zone on Ukraine’s northern territory will likely be used as a bargaining chip if Moscow engages in ceasefire negotiations, which Kyiv has said Russia has failed to do in good faith after delegations from both sides met in Istanbul earlier this month, but failed to advance peace talks. 

A Ukrainian T64 battle tank fires on a Russian troop position in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Jan. 9, 2024. (Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Russia late on Wednesday suggested a second Istanbul meeting, where it said it would present its “memorandum” of ceasefire terms.

Ukraine has thus far not accepted another meeting with Russia and on Thursday said Moscow “promised” to supply its memorandum ahead of any future talks. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets a Russian delegation and some officials ahead of the Istanbul talks in Moscow on May 14. (Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“They are scared to share it because they filled the document with ultimatums and demands,” Tykhyi said Thursday. “They understand this document is needed not to advance the peace process but to stall.”

Tykhyi argued that “[i]f they have nothing to hide, if this document is workable” then there “should be no problem in sharing the document,” which he said is needed to ensure the negotiating parties can achieve a “meaningful result.”

Ukraine has already submitted their ceasefire terms.