Trump announces plans for a meeting with Putin to resolve the ‘bloody mess’ of the Ukraine conflict.

 Trump announces plans for a meeting with Putin to resolve the ‘bloody mess’ of the Ukraine conflict.

The Kremlin said Friday that it welc

President-elect Donald Trump stated late Thursday that preparations are underway for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a summit that is likely to be closely watched by Ukraine and its Western allies.

"President Putin wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump told reporters during a briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. "We need to end this war. It’s a bloody mess."

Trump had earlier indicated that he hoped to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office.

Russia has expressed willingness for dialogue and diplomacy, although some critics argue that its proposals amount to little more than forcing Ukraine into surrender.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that Putin has repeatedly expressed openness to talks with international leaders, including Trump. "No preconditions are necessary for this, what’s required is a mutual desire and political will to engage in dialogue," Peskov added. While welcoming Trump’s efforts, he said there were no specifics on when the meeting would take place, noting that developments would follow Trump’s inauguration.

However, any resolution seems unlikely without Ukraine agreeing to significant territorial concessions to Moscow.

Concerns are growing in Europe that Putin could turn his sights on other former Soviet countries, particularly given Trump’s past actions undermining NATO, which has traditionally protected these states.

“We want peace, but peace through strength,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated in a speech last month.

Meanwhile, Kyiv faces challenges on the battlefield, with Russian forces making gains in eastern Ukraine, including claiming the capture of the town of Kurakhove. Ukraine has also launched its own offensive in Russia's Kursk region, potentially positioning itself for future negotiations.

Trump has toned down his initial claim of resolving the war within 24 hours, now stating that he aims to have it settled in “six months,” with his appointed special envoy for the conflict, Keith Kellogg, setting a target of “100 days.”

This contrasts with President Joe Biden’s approach, which has been marked by limited engagement with Putin, describing him as a “killer” and a “dictator.” Biden has overseen over $170 billion in aid to Ukraine and has reiterated the U.S. commitment to supporting Ukraine until they prevail.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed gratitude for the U.S. support, he and other Ukrainian officials have criticized the pace and scale of military aid. Trump, on the other hand, has suggested the aid has been excessive.

Zelenskyy acknowledged Thursday that a “new chapter” would begin under Trump’s leadership and urged Western allies to continue their support for Ukraine as a crucial counter to Moscow’s aggression.omed the president-elect's willingness to talk and that there would likely be progress on the subject after he is sworn in later this month.

The Kremlin said Friday that it welcomed the president-elect's willingness to talk and that there would likely be progress on the subject after he is sworn in later this month.