President Donald Trump has reportedly signaled support to organize hockey matches between the United States and Russia, according to the Kremlin.
Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a nearly three-hour phone call on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine and “an improved bilateral relationship” between the two countries. According to a readout released by the Kremlin on Tuesday, Trump showed support for potential U.S.-Russia hockey matches.
“Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea to organize hockey matches in the USA and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL,” the Kremlin said in a readout.
“The presidents agreed to stay in touch on all issues raised,” the readout added.
This comes after the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) announced last month that it would not be reintegrating Russia and Belarus club hockey teams into its championships for the 2025-2026 season.
The discussion of potential hockey matches was met with some criticism online.
“Russia’s weakest point is Ukraine attacking its gas & oil facilities, so of course Putin wants Trump’s help stopping it. Nothing on Russia murdering Ukrainian civilians. Add TASS mentioning US-Russia ‘working groups’ & f—ing US-Russia hockey games to this most perfect call,” Garry Kasparov, vice president of the organization World Liberty Congress, wrote in a post.
Trump has faced criticism for his relationship with Putin—who he once called a “genius” for invading Ukraine in 2022. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin last week, alleging that he is “responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.”
The White House described the meeting as the first step in a “movement to peace.”
“Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,” the White House said in a statement. “The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.”
The White House added negotiations would “begin immediately” in the Middle East on those steps. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased ceasefire plan.
Ukrainian officials had proposed a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners at their meeting with the U.S delegation in Saudi Arabia this month.
The Kremlin said Putin welcomed Trump’s calls for the maritime ceasefire and “agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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