Trump vows to prioritize Ukraine-Russia peace talks after inauguration

US President-elect Donald Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to initiating negotiations to end the war in Ukraine shortly after his return to the White House. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump emphasized the urgency of stopping the loss of lives in the ongoing conflict.

“Russia is losing a lot of young people, and so is Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. “This needs to end, and I want to start talks as soon as possible.”

Trump did not provide specific details about when he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin but noted that scheduling a meeting before his January 20 inauguration would be inappropriate. “I know Putin wants to meet,” he added, without offering further clarification.

During his campaign, Trump declared that he could bring an end to the war within 24 hours of taking office. At the press conference, however, he appeared to set a longer timeline, expressing hope the conflict could be resolved within six months.

“I hope it will happen much sooner than six months,” Trump said, acknowledging the complexity of the issue but reiterating his determination to “fix” the situation.