US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is preparing to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to “end” the war in Ukraine.
In a speech to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort, he explained that work is underway to prepare for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump said in his speech broadcast on Fox News: “He wants to meet.” We are preparing for that. President Putin wants to hold a meeting, and he even said so publicly. We have to put an end to it [للصراع الأوكراني]”.
The US President-elect added: “As for Chinese President Xi Jinping, there have been many discussions. There are many meetings planned with many people, some of which have already taken place.
When reporters inquired about the format in which Trump wanted to hold his talks with the Russian and Chinese presidents, he responded by saying: “We still have to work to determine that.”
In turn, the Kremlin stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet with US President-elect Donald Trump without any preconditions, and that what is only required is the presence of mutual desire and political will. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday: “President Putin has repeatedly stressed his openness to contacts with… International leaders, including the President of the United States, and specifically Donald Trump. There are no necessary preconditions for this (meeting). All we need is a mutual desire and political will to hold a dialogue and solve existing problems through dialogue.” Peskov added that Moscow welcomes Trump’s desire to hold a dialogue with the Russian President, but he indicated that there are no specific plans to hold a meeting yet, suggesting that moves to organize the summit will begin. After Trump officially takes office as President of the United States.
In November last year, the Wall Street Journal quoted former US envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker as saying that Donald Trump speaks warmly about Russian President Vladimir Putin because he wants to make a deal with him on Ukraine.
Last December, Yuri Ushakov, advisor to the Russian president, announced that several countries had already offered to host talks between President Putin and the US President-elect, but he did not reveal these countries.
Before that, Putin said in his speech during the plenary session of the Valdai Forum, “The behavior of US President-elect Donald Trump at the time of his assassination attempt gives the impression…he is a brave man.”
Trump’s expected return to the White House on January 20 has revived hope of reaching a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine that began in February 2022, but at the same time it raises fears in Kiev that reaching a quick peace agreement may make Ukraine pay a heavy price.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Trump could play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 34-month-old war with Russia and help stop Putin.
Last updated: January 10, 2025 – 19:50
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