Mr. Trump wants to meet President Putin soon, towards peaceful dialogue

Speaking in an interview with Newsmax, Mr. Trump emphasized that he would be ready to meet Russian President Putin as soon as possible, but the meeting could only take place after he officially took over the White House.

Mr. Trump commented that the war in Ukraine has caused serious damage to people and property on both sides, with the level of casualties increasing.

During his campaign, Mr. Trump claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours if elected. However, he recently adjusted that timeframe to six months, indicating a change in approach as well as a greater awareness of the challenges in reaching a peace agreement.

The Kremlin has also expressed its readiness for dialogue with the new US administration. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Moscow is ready to host a meeting between the two leaders after the inauguration, but has not yet set a specific date. Some neutral countries such as Switzerland and Serbia have announced their readiness to act as intermediaries in organizing the meeting.

Mr Trump's expressed desire for early dialogue with Russia has raised concerns about a possible change in Washington's policy towards Ukraine.

During his previous term, he expressed a more cautious stance towards Moscow and repeatedly criticized the Biden administration's military aid policy towards Kiev.

Some have suggested that the new administration could pursue a deal to quickly end the conflict, but this could lead to concessions that are not in Ukraine's best interests.

However, Mr Trump's incoming peace envoy to Ukraine, Mr Keith Kellogg, stressed that the goal is not to make concessions to Russia but to find a solution that ensures Ukraine's security and maintains its sovereignty.

Despite Mr Trump’s commitment to a peace process, the chances of a deal still face many obstacles. A leaked peace proposal from his team included freezing the front lines, delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership for 20 years and deploying European peacekeepers on the ground. However, the proposal was rejected by Russia, indicating Moscow’s hardline stance on the terms of the talks.

In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged involvement in the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia, complicating the choice of a neutral venue for the meeting. Serbia, with its neutral stance and close ties to Moscow, is considered one of the potential locations if the meeting takes place.

Trump’s push for dialogue with Russia soon after taking office could create significant changes in US foreign policy. However, this process still needs consensus from Congress and Western allies.

The coming weeks will be crucial in assessing whether the new administration truly pursues a path to peace, as well as the implications this will have for US-Russia relations and the global geopolitical order.