Trump Backs Putin’s Proposal for U.S.-Russia Hockey Matches
U.S. President Donald Trump has backed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to hold ice hockey matches between American and Russian professional players, according to the Kremlin.
The games would feature players from the NHL and Russia’s KHL, despite Russia’s ongoing ban from international competitions following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The White House did not mention hockey in its statement on the leaders’ call and has not responded to questions. The NHL also declined to comment, stating it was not involved in the discussions.
Following the invasion, the IIHF suspended Russian and Belarusian teams from all international events, while the NHL cut business ties with Russia and removed its Russian-language media. The IIHF is expected to decide by May whether Russia and Belarus can compete in the 2025-26 season, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Putin, an avid hockey fan, has played publicly in Russia multiple times.
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