Overview

• The Kremlin stated that Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin's idea to organize hockey games between U.S. and Russian professional players during a phone call on March 18, 2025.
• The proposed games would involve players from the NHL and Russia's KHL, despite Russia's exclusion from international hockey due to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
• The White House's summary of the call between Trump and Putin did not mention the hockey proposal, and no further comment was provided.
• The NHL confirmed it was not involved in the discussions and declined to comment on the matter at this stage.
• The IIHF is set to decide by May 2025 whether Russia and Belarus can return to international hockey competitions for the 2025-26 season.