Donald Trump is probably preparing meetings with Vladimir Putin

US President-elect Donald Trump says he is preparing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He wants us to meet and we are in the process of organizing it,” Trump said on Thursday before a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago residence in the US state of Florida. The planned meeting should therefore be about ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump takes office on January 20th. During the election campaign, he announced that he would restore peace in Ukraine “within 24 hours” after taking office. This was met with skepticism in Ukraine: Kiev fears that it could be forced into an agreement that is unfavorable to the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj had recently expressed confidence that the “strong” US President-elect Donald Trump could force Russia to hold peace talks and end the war in Ukraine. In an interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman published on Sunday, Zelensky said that the Republican would be instrumental in ensuring Ukraine’s security and paving the way for a negotiated solution that would also be supported by European states.

For his part, Russian President Putin said in mid-December that he would be ready to meet with Trump “at any time.” Putin said at his annual press conference in mid-December that he had not spoken to Trump in more than four years. “I’m willing, of course. Any time.” The Kremlin leader added that he was sure “that we have a lot to say to each other.” Russia is ready for “negotiations and compromises”.