**Switzerland Offers to Host Trump-Putin Meeting**
The Swiss government has said it is ready to host a meeting between US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This comes as the Kremlin signals its willingness to meet with Trump to discuss ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to Nicolas Bideau, head of communications at the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Switzerland has been willing to facilitate diplomatic initiatives since the global peace summit held in June. He said that following the summit, Ukraine, Russia, and the US were regularly informed of Switzerland’s willingness to support diplomatic efforts to find peace.
**Meeting Plans are Underway**
The Kremlin said any face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin would occur only after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Trump vowed to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table and swiftly end the full-scale war that nears its third anniversary.
However, specific peace proposals are still being worked out. A pitch leaked from Trump’s team has been rejected by Russia. One obstacle to a Trump-Putin meeting could be an arrest warrant issued for Putin in March 2023 for allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.
**Challenges Ahead**
Both Kyiv and Moscow face mounting challenges connected to the ongoing war. Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russia’s advance due to manpower shortages, while the future of Western support grows uncertain under Trump. Chances of retaking the fifth of Ukraine’s territory that Russia occupies appear increasingly slim.
In turn, Russia is grappling with soaring inflation caused by record military spending and its casualties are believed to range between 600,000-800,000 dead and wounded, exceeding all of Moscow’s post-World War II conflicts combined.
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