In a bold move just days before his inauguration, US President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing a shared desire to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“He wants to meet, and we’re setting it up,” Trump revealed Thursday during a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. He emphasized the urgency of resolving the war, describing it as “a bloody mess.”
The announcement aligns with Trump’s campaign promises to prioritize peace in Ukraine, which has faced relentless Russian aggression since February 2022. However, his strategy for achieving a ceasefire or peace deal remains unclear.
Trump’s comments spotlight his contentious stance on US involvement in the conflict. He has consistently criticized the Biden administration’s $65 billion military aid package to Kyiv, raising questions about America’s role in NATO and its continued support for Ukraine.
While Trump has often refrained from criticizing Putin, he has openly mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to him as a “salesman.” This approach has drawn sharp criticism in Washington, where Trump’s perceived admiration for the Kremlin leader has fueled concerns over his foreign policy priorities.
The United States has been Ukraine’s largest wartime ally under President Biden, a commitment Trump’s remarks appear to challenge. The planned meeting with Putin signals a potential shift in US-Russia relations, leaving the world watching to see how the incoming administration will navigate this high-stakes diplomacy.