President-elect of the United States Donald Trump announced on the 9th (local time) that he is coordinating a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Analysts suggest that Trump is actively engaging in direct negotiations to end the nearly three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.
According to foreign media including the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), Trump made the remarks before a meeting with Republican governors at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, saying, "He (Putin) wants to meet, and we are preparing for that (meeting)."
Trump emphasized, "(Meeting with Putin) We have to end that war (the Russia-Ukraine war). It is a bloody mess."
During his candidacy, Trump pledged, "If I take office, I will end the Ukraine war within 24 hours," based on his judgment that the U.S. is wasting enormous funds supporting Ukraine. SCMP explained, "Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, the Joe Biden administration has pledged over $175 billion in aid, including more than $60 billion in security assistance to Ukraine."
Since the election, Trump has actively expressed his willingness to engage in direct talks with President Putin. At a press conference last month, he mentioned that not only Ukrainians but also Russian soldiers are suffering astronomical casualties due to the Ukraine war, and that he would talk with President Putin. Subsequently, on the 19th of the same month, President Putin responded by saying he is ready to meet with Trump anytime.
Trump has never publicly disclosed specific plans for ending the war. However, among his close aides, there have been discussions about suspending Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and freezing the current front lines. Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine's territory, while Ukraine controls parts of Russia's western Kursk region.
Security guarantees to prevent Russia's re-invasion are also expected to be on the agenda. President Zelensky recently expressed support for deploying European peacekeeping forces in his country after the war ends, but insisted that this must be a measure taken during the process of joining NATO.
Trump, who vowed to end the war immediately after taking office, now considers a realistic timeline for peace to be within the next six months. When asked about this at a press conference on the 7th, he said, "I hope there is a six-month timeframe. I also think it would be better if it happens much sooner than six months."
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