adverts
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced that plans are underway for a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The goal of the proposed talks, he stated, is to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said, “He [Putin] wants to meet, and we are setting it up. We have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess.”
adverts
The Kremlin confirmed its willingness to engage in discussions, though no specific timeline or details have been established. Trump’s statements signal his intent to focus on resolving the conflict shortly after assuming office on January 20.
Trump has expressed scepticism about the U.S.’s continued military and financial support for Ukraine, suggesting a shift in approach to handling the war.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated that high-level discussions with the incoming administration are anticipated, including a potential meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky, who had previously spoken with Trump following his electoral victory, expressed optimism about a quicker resolution to the war under Trump’s leadership. “With Trump as president, the war would end sooner,” he said, citing a constructive phone exchange with the president-elect.
Trump has nominated Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general and former national security adviser, as special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg has outlined a framework for resolving the conflict, including a conditional approach to U.S. aid to Ukraine.
In a 2024 research paper for the America First Policy Institute, Kellogg suggested that U.S. support should hinge on Ukraine’s willingness to engage in peace talks with Moscow.
However, the proposal also noted that if Russia declined to participate in talks, U.S. aid to Ukraine should continue.
Trump’s approach reflects his broader scepticism about U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and his stated aim of prioritising diplomacy. The international community is closely watching as plans for the meeting unfold, with the outcome potentially shaping the trajectory of the war in Ukraine.
Source: BBC
