From 'war criminal' to US guest — Trump invites Putin out of isolation

Russian President Vladimir Putin's first trip to the United States in a decade signals a break from the diplomatic isolation that followed his 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire deal — but experts warn it could legitimize Putin on the global stage without securing concessions.

Exiled Russian opposition figure Dmitry Gudkov called the planned meeting a "breakthrough" for the Kremlin leader.

"This meeting takes him out of i