Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he believes he and former U.S. President Donald Trump should meet to discuss important issues like the war in Ukraine and energy prices, which are both major concerns for the world.
Putin shared his thoughts on these matters after Trump, who just started his second term, emphasized the need to address the war in Ukraine and its effects on global energy prices. Putin also mentioned that for any real peace talks to happen between Russia and Ukraine, Western countries need to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cancel a 2022 rule that stops him from talking to Putin.
The Sticking Point: The 2022 Decree
In 2022, President Zelenskyy made a decision that prevents any official talks with Putin. Putin believes this rule is one of the main reasons peace talks haven’t been possible. He said that as long as this decree is in place, any talks would be seen as untrustworthy and the results could be legally challenged. Putin even suggested that the countries providing financial support to Ukraine should convince Zelenskyy to cancel this rule.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, however, disagreed. He said that Putin was trying to manipulate the situation and use the desire for peace as a way to influence the U.S. president’s actions.
Putin Praises Trump’s Approach
Putin also spoke about how he has had a “pragmatic and trusting” relationship with Trump in the past. He even expressed support for Trump’s unproven claim that the 2020 U.S. election was stolen from him, saying that if Trump had won, the war in Ukraine might not have happened.
Trump, for his part, has also expressed interest in meeting with Putin to end the war. He recently called the conflict “ridiculous” and said it was harming Russia’s economy. Trump believes that talks between the two leaders could help bring the war to an end.
Energy and Oil Prices
Aside from the war, Putin said that both Russia and the U.S. have a lot to discuss when it comes to energy, especially oil prices. Since both countries are major oil producers, they share an interest in keeping oil prices at a stable level. Putin noted that prices that are too high or too low could hurt both countries. He mentioned that Trump was already calling on OPEC (a group of oil-producing countries) to reduce oil prices.
While no specific details were given, it’s clear that Putin sees an opportunity for the U.S. and Russia to work together on energy-related issues.
Looking Ahead
Despite their differences, Putin’s comments show that he is open to the idea of meeting Trump to discuss peace and other important issues, if both sides agree. For now, the future of these talks depends on whether the U.S. is willing to engage with Russia, as well as the ongoing challenges in Ukraine.
