Donald Trump backs Vladimir Putin’s idea of hosting hockey games between the USA and banned Russia
Donald Trump has reportedly backed Vladimir Putin’s proposal to host hockey games between the USA and Russia on American soil.
The two leaders held a lengthy phone discussion on Tuesday, during which Putin agreed to a proposal by Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days.
The Kremlin announced they also discussed the possibility of the two nations competing in hockey games in the US, amid Russia’s ongoing ban from international competition.
It was announced last month that Russia and Belarus are to remain frozen out of International Ice Hockey Federation competitions through the 2025-26 season.
The IIHF decision covers all world championships and effectively next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Italy, although the International Olympic Committee has the final say.
‘It is not yet safe to reintegrate the Russian and Belarusian national and club teams,’ the IIHF said, because ‘the current security conditions do not allow the necessary requirements for the organization of tournaments guaranteeing the safety of all.’
Donald Trump has backed Vladimir Putin’s plan to hold US vs Russia hockey games in America
Russia and Belarus are still frozen out of International Ice Hockey Federation competitions
The IIHF council said it will next assess the issue in May 2026.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled for February 6–22 in Milan and Cortina.
Russia, in previous guises as the Soviet Union and Unified Team, has won the Olympic gold nine times.
Russia won the silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, just weeks before the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia and Belarus have been banned from international ice hockey tournaments since then.
Trump and Putin took the first steps toward ending the war between Russia and Ukraine as they agreed to an ‘energy and infrastructure ceasefire.’
The partial ceasefire agreement will be in effect for 30 days. Talks for a permanent peace will ‘begin immediately’ in the Middle East.
‘The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,’ the White House said in its readout of the call.
But Putin had conditions for a permanent end to the fighting, saying he wants the United States and its allies to end military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine to halt hostilities, according to the Kremlin readout.
European allies, however, are worried that could result in Moscow rearming itself during a ceasefire, leaving Kyiv short-handed and playing catchup.
President Donald Trump – seen above at the Kennedy Center on Monday – went into Tuesday’s call confident he could get a ceasefire deal
A Ukrainian soldier in the Kharkiv region – the war with Russia has been going on three years
‘Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace,’ the White House said.
In other news out of Tuesday’s phone call, Putin agreed to send back 23 critically injured Ukrainian prisoners.
Additionally, the two leaders stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. They also agreed Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel, the White House said.
And Trump supports Putin’s idea for an ice hockey game between U.S. and Russian players, the Kremlin noted.
Their call lasted about two hours, beginning around 10 am ET and concluding at noon. Trump spoke from the Oval Office, where he was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
