US President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans were underway for a possible peace meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although no specific timeline was given.
Trump’s return to the White House on January 20 has sparked a mix of hope and concern globally. While some have seen potential for a diplomatic resolution to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, others feared that a peace deal might come at a big cost to Kyiv.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago before a meeting with Republican governors, Trump stated on January 9: “President Putin wants to meet. He has said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess.”
His advisers have suggested proposals to end the conflict that could result in large swathes of Ukrainian territory being ceded to Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed cautious optimism, saying he believed Trump could play a decisive role in ending the war. Yet concerns remain in Kyiv about what compromises might be required.
In contrast, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking on the same day at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, underscored the importance of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), an alliance of 57 countries and the European Union supporting Ukraine.
Austin stressed that maintaining military aid and unity among the group’s member countries was crucial to strengthening Ukraine’s position in future peace negotiations.
“This coalition must not falter,” he stated, warning that retreating now would embolden Russian aggression.
Austin painted a stark picture of the stakes involved. “Putin wants a world where empires crush sovereignty, conquest undermines human rights, and tyranny buries democracy.
“Every autocrat is watching to see if Putin succeeds,” he declared.
The Defence Secretary highlighted that the UDCG, co-ordinated by Washington since April 2022, had provided Ukraine with $126 billion (€122.2 billion) in military aid, making it a cornerstone of global security.
The meeting at Ramstein, which included Zelensky, was the last before Trump assumes office. Austin declined to speculate on the future of the coalition under Trump but emphasised its critical role for Ukraine, Europe, and the world.
“The survival of Ukraine is at stake but so is the security of all of us,” he said.
While Trump has criticised outgoing US President Joe Biden’s military assistance to Ukraine, Austin defended the UDCG’s legacy, describing it as “the arsenal of Ukrainian democracy” and “the most consequential global coalition in over 30 years”.
He also said Russian casualties had exceeded 700,000 so far, with Putin failing to achieve any of his strategic objectives despite the significant losses.
The US is expected to announce $500 million in military aid for Ukraine at a final gathering of outgoing President Joe Biden’s weapons-pledging conferences. https://t.co/ZtzUV0HF8N
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 9, 2025
