After more than seven years, Russia and the United States are set to compete in an ice hockey friendly match on July 1st in Moscow. This event follows discussions between former Presidents Trump and Putin last year, as reported by local media.
The match holds significance as Russian teams were excluded from international competitions in 2022 due to the Ukraine invasion. The announcement was made by Robert Agee, President and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, during the “Russia-USA: Dialogue of Cultures” session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Scheduled in line with the 250th anniversary of US independence on July 4th, the meeting is part of efforts to improve relations between the two nations. Talks between Trump and Putin in March 2025 laid the foundation for organizing these friendly matches involving Russian and American teams.
“We hope this helps to break the ice that has formed between us,” said Agee, emphasizing the symbolic nature of the upcoming match. The game will feature a mix of professional and amateur players at the Luzhniki Olympic complex ice rink, with notable participation from Russian National Hockey League (NHL) star Alexander Ovechkin, known for his support of Putin.
In a separate development, Putin and Trump recently discussed various issues, including the White House press dinner shooting, Iran, and the Ukraine crisis during a phone call in April. Putin condemned the assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, highlighting the rejection of politically motivated violence.
