US President-elect Donald Trump expressed his desire to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at the earliest opportunity to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at the Turning Point USA conference, Trump stated, “That’s one of the things I want to do quickly, and President Putin has said he wants to meet with me as soon as possible. We’ve got to end this war.”
Trump claimed that the conflict, which he described as having killed “millions of soldiers,” would never have occurred under his presidency.
“I will end the war in Ukraine, I will stop the chaos in the Middle East. And I promise I will not allow World War III. We are very close to World War III,” he said during an interview.
Putin Signals Openness to Talks
Russian President Putin previously expressed his willingness to meet Trump, stating during a televised Q&A session on December 19, “I am ready for this, and they will be ready for the meeting.”
He added that he was open to negotiations with Kyiv and compromises.
However, Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, clarified that there were currently “no real impulses” for a meeting between Putin and Trump.
Conditions for Ceasefire
In June, Putin outlined his terms for a ceasefire and peace talks with Ukraine, which included:
The withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO.
A commitment to Ukraine’s non-nuclear status.
The lifting of Western sanctions against Russia.
Recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and four Ukrainian regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected these terms, calling them an ultimatum. He reiterated that Ukraine would not negotiate under such conditions.
Trump’s Role in Peace Talks
After meeting with Zelensky in Paris on December 7, Trump stated that the Ukrainian leader “wants peace” and believes “the time has come” for it.
However, Kyiv continues to insist on its own terms for negotiations, including its NATO aspirations.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump did not express support for Ukraine’s NATO membership during his discussions with Zelensky.
To advance his peace efforts, Trump has appointed retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as a special envoy for resolving the conflict. Kellogg is scheduled to visit Kyiv in early January as part of the incoming administration’s push to end the fighting. A visit to Moscow may also be on the agenda.
