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| Trump supporters hope he can end the war in Ukraine | Photo: Reuters |
Trump will be sworn in as the new president of the United States on January 20. Although he said he would meet with Putin very soon after taking the oath, Trump did not say anything specific about when the meeting might take place.
If Trump and Putin meet, it will be the first meeting between the top two leaders of the United States and Russia since the start of the Ukraine war. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Trump has confidently said during this election campaign that he will end the war in Ukraine if he comes to power.
Asked what strategy Trump would use to end the war, Trump told Newsmax, "Look, there's only one strategy, and it depends on Putin. I can't imagine Putin being very thrilled with the way this war is going. Because even for him, this war is not going well."
The newly elected US president claimed that Putin also wants to meet with him. Trump said, "I'm going to meet very soon. I'll do it as soon as possible...First, you have to take responsibility. There are some things, you have to sit there and do them."
Trump's chosen national security adviser, Mike Waltz, echoed Trump's sentiments. He said on Sunday that he expected a phone call between Trump and Putin in the next few days or weeks.
The Ukraine war is the first time relations between Moscow and the West have deteriorated this much since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.