(Washington) US President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that he was preparing a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to “end” the war in Ukraine.
“He wants us to meet, and we’re in the process of arranging that,” Mr. Trump said before a meeting with Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“President Putin wants us to meet, he has even said it publicly, and we must put an end to this war, which is a real waste,” added the Republican billionaire.
During his annual televised question-and-answer session on December 19, Mr. Putin said he was ready to meet Mr. Trump “at any time.”
“If we ever meet President-elect Trump, I am sure we will have a lot to say to each other,” he said.
Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, promised during his election campaign to end the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours”, and has already called for an “immediate ceasefire” and talks.
Europeans and Ukrainians fear he could force major concessions from Kyiv and hand the Kremlin a geopolitical victory.
Under the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden, the United States has been Ukraine’s main supporter since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, providing more than $65 billion in military aid.
