In the midst of ongoing calls for a resolution to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in discussions that took an unexpected turn, focusing on potential hockey games between the two nations.
As reported by CNN, Trump and Putin had a lengthy phone conversation on Tuesday. Although Putin declined to agree to a full ceasefire, he did consent to “temporarily halt attacks on energy and infrastructure targets in Ukraine,” according to CNN.
Despite the mounting international pressure for a ceasefire and a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, the leaders veered into an unusual dialogue concerning hockey.
According to Meridith McGraw of The Wall Street Journal, the Kremlin disclosed in a statement that Trump showed support for Putin’s proposal to arrange “hockey matches in the United States and Russia featuring players from the NHL and KHL.”
At the end of the Kremlin readout: “Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s idea of organizing hockey matches in the United States and Russia between Russian and American players playing in the NHL and KHL.”
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) March 18, 2025
This development raises eyebrows considering that international hockey teams from Russia—across men’s, women’s, and junior levels—have faced suspension from play by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In the absence of Russian participation, the NHL hosted a Four Nations Face-Off tournament in February as an alternative to the All-Star Game. The event featured Canada, Sweden, the USA, and Finland, with Canada ultimately claiming victory over the U.S. in the finals.
The Russian men’s international team has not competed in a major tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
NHL Responds to Trump-Putin Hockey Talks
NHL insider Chris Johnston, reporting for The Athletic and TSN, indicated that the league issued a statement deeming it “inappropriate” to comment on the discussions between Trump and Putin, as they were not directly involved.
Following the @meridithmcgraw report about Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussing hockey games in the U.S. and Russia featuring NHL/KHL players, the NHL released this statement: pic.twitter.com/iILF2UpDRB
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 18, 2025
Should Trump and Putin make headway toward an agreement, the involvement of the NHL and its players would be crucial. Given the likely backlash the league would face if it were to endorse such matches, Putin’s vision appears to be an unlikely prospect.
