The Kremlin has responded to claims of a potential meeting between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, clarifying that no official request for such talks has been made while expressing an openness to them.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Presidential Press Office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump has repeatedly said he would end the war in Ukraine "within 24 hours," but reports emerged last month that Russia had rejected parts of the U.S. president-elect's proposed Ukraine peace plan.
Though Trump maintains that the quick negotiation of a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war will be a top priority in his second term, it remains to be seen how he intends to achieve that outcome.
What To Know
On Thursday, Trump hosted 22 of 27 Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate and outlined his vision for his second administration.
Among his stated goals was ending the conflict in Ukraine shortly after returning to office. Putin "wants to meet, and we're setting it up," he told attendees.
He added that the war, which the U.N. estimates has displaced about 6 million people, was a "bloody mess" and needed to be resolved.
However, the Kremlin later contradicted Trump's statement, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that Russia had not received a formal request for a meeting.
The press secretary acknowledged that Putin had often expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue but emphasized that it would be more appropriate to wait until Trump took office before considering any such discussions. He told reporters during a conference call on Friday that Russia attaches no conditions to the possibility of face-to-face talks.
The differing statements from Trump and the Kremlin have raised questions about the level of communication between the incoming U.S. administration and Moscow.
Trump's approach to Russia and Ukraine has already caused alarm in some quarters, and he has previously described Putin as "pretty smart" for invading Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have pushed for the United States to continue supporting Kyiv, emphasizing that cutting off aid could embolden Putin further and escalate the conflict.
What People Are Saying
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "If, after taking office, the political will to resume contacts at the highest level remains, then, of course, President Putin will only welcome this. He has repeatedly spoken about his readiness for dialogue and the need for this dialogue."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Thursday: "European security guarantees are not sufficient for Ukraine that fights such an enemy as Russia. We need joint security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe."
Tristan Snell, a lawyer and the author of Taking Down Trump, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Trump says Putin wants to meet with him, and a meeting is being arranged. Well, of course. Trump needs to get his marching orders, and Putin wants to check in on his #1 asset."
What Happens Next
As Trump's inauguration draws nearer, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. and Russia will make concrete steps toward a high-level meeting. For Ukraine, the situation remains precarious, with concerns that U.S. military support may not continue at the same level under the Trump administration.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
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