ByREUTERS
Updated:

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted his invitation to join Trump's Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts, a statement that Putin quickly countered, saying that the invitation was only under consideration.

“He was invited. He’s accepted,” Trump told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland after meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte.

Soon after Trump's comments, Putin told the Russian security council that the foreign ministry was still studying the proposal and would respond in due course.

US President Donald Trump looks on next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025; illustrative.
US President Donald Trump looks on next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, August 15, 2025; illustrative. (credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Putin believes Board of Peace primarily designed to deal with Middle East

Putin, quoted by Russian news agencies at a meeting of Russia's Security Council, said he believed the proposed Board was primarily designed to deal with a Middle East peace settlement.

He said Russia was prepared to provide $1 billion for the Board - as proposed by Trump for long-term membership - from frozen Russian assets.