Former US President Donald Trump announced preparations are underway for a high-level meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling potential diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the conflict "within 24 hours," did not specify a timeline or agenda for the talks.
The Kremlin has expressed its willingness to engage, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating, "The president has repeatedly stated his openness to contact with international leaders, including the US president, including Donald Trump”
During a statement on Thursday, Trump reiterated his intention to bring an end to the war, describing it as "a bloody mess."
He added, " President Putin wants to meet, he's said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with.”
Throughout his campaign, Trump emphasized his rapport with Putin, claiming he could swiftly broker peace without providing concrete details.
Earlier this week, he expressed optimism that the war could end within six months of his potential presidency, telling reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate, "I hope long before six months."
However, Trump’s remarks on casualty figures raised eyebrows, as he initially claimed "millions" of soldiers had been killed before revising the estimate to "hundreds of thousands."
UN reports estimate at least 12,300 civilian deaths in Ukraine, while independent analyses suggest significant military losses on both sides, with tens of thousands of Ukrainian and hundreds of thousands of Russian troops killed, injured, or captured.
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are preparing for potential changes in US foreign policy should Trump take office.
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