President-elect Donald Trump announced plans for a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though no specific timeline has been provided. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump stated, “He wants to meet, and we are setting it up.”
The Kremlin responded positively, indicating openness to talks but clarifying that no concrete details have been finalized.
Trump, who will take office on January 20, has pledged to prioritize negotiations to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. He has expressed scepticism about continued U.S. military and financial aid to Kyiv, emphasizing the need for a resolution. “President Putin wants to meet,” Trump said on Thursday. “He has said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry acknowledged the potential for high-level discussions with the incoming Trump administration, including a prospective meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A ministry spokesperson expressed hope that these talks could advance peace efforts.
Trump has nominated retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a former national security adviser, as his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg outlined his vision for ending the conflict in a research paper published by the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump’s policies. The paper suggested linking future U.S. aid to Ukraine’s willingness to participate in peace talks with Moscow, while also recommending continued support for Ukraine if Russia refuses to negotiate.
Following Trump’s electoral victory in November, Zelensky voiced optimism about the potential for a quicker resolution to the war under Trump’s leadership. The Ukrainian president described a phone conversation with Trump as “constructive,” though he did not elaborate on any conditions Trump might have set regarding negotiations with Russia.
The announcement marks a significant step in Trump’s approach to foreign policy, particularly as the world watches to see how his administration will navigate the complex dynamics of the Ukraine war and U.S.-Russia relations.
