Donald Trump has announced that arrangements are underway for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former president did not specify a timeline for the anticipated meeting.
“President Putin wants to meet, and we are in the process of setting it up,” Trump stated during his remarks at Mar-a-Lago. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the US has yet to formally request this meeting.
Trump has pledged to pursue negotiations to bring an end to the war in Ukraine shortly after assuming office on January 20. He has expressed reservations regarding the extent of US military and financial support for Ukraine.
“President Putin has publicly expressed his desire to meet, and we need to find a resolution to this conflict. It’s a dire situation,” Trump emphasized.
Additionally, Trump has appointed Keith Kellogg, a former national security adviser and retired lieutenant general, to serve as a special envoy to Ukraine and Russia in his new administration. Kellogg has previously outlined strategies for achieving peace in the region, suggesting that US assistance to Ukraine should be contingent upon its willingness to engage in talks with Russia. However, he also stated that aid should continue if Russia does not participate.
In the wake of Trump’s electoral victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism, believing that with Trump in office, the conflict would conclude sooner than expected. Zelensky mentioned that he and Trump had a “constructive exchange” over the phone, though the details of any potential demands regarding negotiations with Russia remain unclear.
