The US president-elect has claimed that he could easily resolve the conflict in Ukraine
Several countries have offered to host potential negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump, Putin’s aide, Yury Ushakov, has said.
During a press briefing on Monday, the former diplomat was asked if prime ministers Viktor Orban of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia had offered to host a meeting between the two nuclear-armed states.
“We have received several proposals from different countries,” Ushakov told reporters during a press briefing on Monday. “I will not name specific countries, in order not to impact any potential developments. But such proposals have been made and are being made.”
US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that he would quickly mediate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine. He said last week that he was ready to speak to Putin “as soon as possible.” The Kremlin said on Sunday that there were no specific plans for such a meeting, however.
According to media reports, Trump’s team is considering the freezing of the conflict along the current front line. Both Russia and Ukraine previously dismissed such an idea as unacceptable. Moscow insists that Kiev must drop its aspirations to join NATO and renounce claims on Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions that are now part of Russia.
The peace talks held in Belarus and Türkiye broke down in the spring of 2022, with both sides accusing each other of making unrealistic demands. Putin later said that Ukrainian negotiators abruptly abandoned the talks, after initially agreeing to transform Ukraine into a neutral country and restrict its army. Victoria Nuland, a senior US State Department official, admitted in 2024 that Washington and its allies advised Kiev not to agree to the terms demanded by Moscow.
Switzerland, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia were among the countries that expressed desire to host future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, while China, Brazil and Indonesia have unveiled roadmaps to end the conflict.
Hungary and Slovakia broke rank with fellow NATO members, arguing against unconditional support for Ukraine and insisting that the conflict should be resolved through diplomatic means.
Orban and Putin discussed Ukraine in detail over the phone earlier this month, according to the Kremlin. Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow on Monday, telling reporters after a meeting with Putin that Kiev’s decision not to renew the contract on the transit of natural gas would damage Slovakian economy. Slovakia receives Russian gas through Ukrainian territory.