Official announcements from involved governments or credible news outlets

Trump and Putin Set to Talk as Kremlin Welcomes Meeting to End Ukraine War

Jan 12, 2025, 02:16 AM

President-elect Donald Trump announced that a meeting is being arranged between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, with a potential phone call in the coming days or weeks. Trump's incoming national security advisor, Mike Waltz, confirmed that preparations are underway for a meeting, stating that the war has 'bogged down to a World War I style meat grinder of people and resources with World War III consequences.' Waltz added that Trump believes it is 'unrealistic to say that we are going to expel every Russian from every square meter of Ukrainian land' and that an agreement on Ukraine is impossible without dialogue with Russia. The Kremlin welcomed Trump's readiness to engage, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that Putin is open to contact with international leaders and that 'no conditions are required for this [contact].' Waltz indicated that Trump may consider lifting restrictions on long-range weapons for Ukraine and increasing energy sanctions against Russia to pressure Putin to negotiate. He also suggested that Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire but is currently drafting young people as the conflict continues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed a desire to obtain security guarantees and end the war in 2025, stating, 'We will do everything to achieve this.' There are concerns in Ukraine over potential compromises on national interests, as Trump's openness to engage with Putin raises questions about the future of the conflict.