Trump says meeting with Putin being arranged
3 min read
Donald Trump has announced that a meeting between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin is being arranged, although he did not specify when the meeting would take place. In a statement made at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the U.S. president-elect confirmed that Putin had expressed interest in meeting, saying, “He wants to meet and we are setting it up.”
The Kremlin responded positively, stating that it was open to the idea of talks, but added that the details of the meeting had not yet been confirmed. Trump, who is set to take office on January 20, has repeatedly expressed his desire to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. He has also voiced skepticism about the U.S. military and financial support for Ukraine, which has been a key point of tension in U.S.-Russian relations.
In his remarks, Trump described the war as a “bloody mess” and reiterated his commitment to helping end it. “President Putin wants to meet,” he said on Thursday, referring to Putin’s public statements about his desire for talks. Trump emphasized the urgency of bringing the conflict to a close, suggesting that it had become a prolonged and devastating situation.
Following Trump’s comments, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s foreign ministry indicated that the Ukrainian government expected high-level discussions to take place with the new U.S. administration after the inauguration. This could include a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump’s administration has also seen the nomination of Keith Kellogg, a former national security adviser and retired U.S. military lieutenant general, to serve as special envoy to both Ukraine and Russia.
Kellogg has already outlined his vision for bringing the war in Ukraine to an end. In a research paper published in April 2024 by the America First Policy Institute, a think tank supportive of Trump, Kellogg argued that U.S. aid to Ukraine should be conditioned on the country’s willingness to participate in peace talks with Russia. He suggested that if Russia refused to engage in negotiations, the U.S. should continue its support for Ukraine.
The Trump administration’s stance on Ukraine has been a subject of debate. Since his election in November, Ukrainian President Zelensky has expressed optimism about the potential for a quicker resolution to the conflict under Trump’s leadership. Zelensky indicated that he believed the war would “end sooner” under Trump than it might under other leaders. The two leaders had a phone conversation after Trump’s victory, which Zelensky described as a “constructive exchange.” However, Zelensky did not reveal whether Trump had made any specific demands related to peace talks with Russia during their discussion.
Trump’s comments and his proposed meeting with Putin reflect a shift in U.S. foreign policy that could have significant implications for the future of the war in Ukraine. Trump’s skepticism about the current level of U.S. support for Ukraine contrasts with the stance of the outgoing Biden administration, which has pledged ongoing military and financial assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
The proposed meeting with Putin, if it occurs, could mark a pivotal moment in U.S.-Russia relations and shape the trajectory of the conflict in Ukraine. Trump’s approach to foreign diplomacy, particularly his desire to engage with Putin, has been one of the more controversial aspects of his political career. His stance on Ukraine, combined with his commitment to negotiating peace, suggests that his foreign policy priorities may differ significantly from those of previous administrations.
As the U.S. prepares for a new presidential administration, the potential for direct talks between Trump and Putin raises questions about the future of American support for Ukraine and the broader international response to Russia’s actions. Whether Trump’s efforts to broker peace with Putin will be successful, and how this will affect Ukraine, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, as tensions continue to simmer in Ukraine, all eyes will be on the actions of the incoming U.S. administration and how it will approach the complex and volatile situation in Eastern Europe.
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