According to Reuters, Mike Walz, President Donald Trump’s nominee for national security adviser, said in a recent interview with ABC News that the U.S. president-elect’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin was He said he expects it to take place in the coming days and weeks.
President Trump, who is scheduled to take the oath of office on January 20, vowed to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking over the White House during last year’s campaign.
Here’s what President Trump said about his meeting with President Putin:
On Thursday, President Trump announced that a meeting with President Putin was being arranged. Ukraine and its Western allies will closely monitor this encounter.
President Trump told a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida residence that “President Putin would like to have a meeting,” and “we are creating that opportunity.” “We have to end that war. It’s a bloody mess.”
Also read: US hits Russian oil with toughest sanctions yet to boost Ukraine and President Trump’s influence
Russia ‘welcomes’ Trump’s approach
Although Russia says it is open to communication and diplomacy, critics say its offer is actually nothing more than a Ukrainian surrender.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that “President Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to contacts with international leaders, including the presidents of the United States, including President Donald Trump.” He added that no conditions were necessary and that it was based on “mutual desire and political will to conduct dialogue.”
Peskov said he welcomed Trump’s approach, but said there were “no specifics” regarding the date. He suggested that “there will be some progress” after Trump takes office.
Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, says the president-elect wants to end Europe’s largest conflict since World War II as quickly as possible.
“Russian casualties, Ukrainian casualties, damage to cities, this is a war that has to end. And I think he (Trump) can do that in the short term,” according to Fox News. he said.
President Trump stressed that his goal was not to give “something” to Putin or the Russians, but only to “save” Ukraine and its sovereignty.