Trump Plans Meeting with Putin to Address Ukraine Conflict Amid Renewed Criticism

President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is actively working to arrange a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to Fox News’s Peter Doocy at Mar-a-Lago during a gathering with Republican governors, Trump confirmed the plans. “He wants to meet. And we’re setting it up,” Trump said, signaling a significant move in his foreign policy approach.

While Trump noted he has maintained frequent communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other global leaders, he acknowledged that he has yet to engage directly with Putin. Despite this, the president-elect emphasized the urgency of addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“President Putin wants to meet. He’s said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess,” Trump stated, referring to the war that began in early 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

Ending the war has been a central theme of Trump’s foreign policy promises. He has repeatedly pledged to bring both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the negotiating table to broker a resolution to the devastating conflict.

The war has caused immense destruction, with thousands of lives lost and millions displaced. Trump’s proposed intervention has been framed as a bold step toward achieving peace, though critics remain skeptical of its feasibility.

Trump’s relationship with Putin, however, continues to spark controversy. For years, he has faced accusations from Democrats and political opponents of being overly friendly and accommodating toward the Russian leader.

Critics argue that Trump’s approach risks emboldening autocratic regimes and undermining U.S. credibility on the global stage. These allegations have persisted throughout his political career and are likely to intensify as he assumes the presidency once again.

Despite the criticism, Trump appears determined to proceed with his plans. “We have to do this. It’s a mess that needs to end, and I’ll make sure it does,” he declared during the Mar-a-Lago meeting.

The potential meeting with Putin has already drawn significant attention, both for its high stakes and the geopolitical implications it carries.

As Trump prepares to step into his role as president-elect, his efforts to address the Ukraine conflict may shape not only his foreign policy agenda but also his legacy.

While the outcome of these efforts remains uncertain, the planned meeting underscores Trump’s intention to position himself as a dealmaker capable of resolving one of the most critical global crises of recent years. For better or worse, his actions will be closely watched by both allies and adversaries around the world.