Trump Supports Putin's Proposal for U.S.-Russia Ice Hockey Matches

TDT | Manama

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U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to organize ice hockey matches between professional American and Russian players, according to the Kremlin. The proposal comes amidst ongoing tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which led to the suspension of Russian teams from international ice hockey competitions.

In a phone conversation between the two leaders on Tuesday, Putin put forward the idea of organizing hockey matches between players from the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), the premier professional leagues in the United States and Russia. The Kremlin confirmed Trump’s support for the proposal, suggesting that such matches could help bridge the gap between the two nations in the world of sports.

The NHL, however, did not comment on the discussions. An NHL spokesperson told Reuters, "We have just become aware of the conversation between President Trump and President Putin... obviously, we were not a party to those discussions, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time."

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended Russian and Belarusian teams from all international events. The NHL also severed its ties with Russian business partners and ceased operations on Russian-language social media. The IIHF relocated the 2023 World Championships from St. Petersburg and continues to assess Russia's participation in future tournaments, with a decision on the 2025-26 season expected by May.

Putin, an avid ice hockey fan, has long promoted the sport in Russia, even participating in public games. His enthusiasm for hockey is well known, and the idea of fostering international matches reflects his desire to maintain Russia’s presence in the global hockey scene despite the ongoing political situation.

Although the proposal has not been met with an official response from the White House regarding hockey, it has sparked interest in the international hockey community, especially as the IIHF prepares for decisions regarding Russia’s potential return to international competitions. As tensions continue to simmer, these proposed hockey matches could serve as a new arena for diplomatic engagement through sport.