On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump revealed that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders agreed to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump shared that he and Putin had agreed to have their respective teams start negotiations immediately. The two leaders also extended invitations to each other to visit their capitals in the near future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented that he had also spoken with Trump about a “lasting, reliable peace.” Zelensky is expected to meet with US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at an upcoming defense summit in Munich on Friday.
Trump expressed his desire to end the conflict, writing on social media, “It is time to stop this ridiculous war, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, death and destruction. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!” Although no specific date was set for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, Trump mentioned to reporters at the White House that the meeting could take place in Saudi Arabia.
The phone call between Trump and Putin lasted nearly 90 minutes, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin extended an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow. Trump also discussed the future of Ukraine with reporters, stating that it was unlikely Ukraine would return to its pre-2014 borders. However, he suggested that “some of that land will come back,” referring to areas occupied by Russian forces.
Regarding Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO, Trump and his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, agreed that it was unlikely that Ukraine would join the military alliance, which was a disappointment for Kyiv. The UK government, however, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
The Trump-Putin phone call occurred as tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high. Despite this, Zelensky has maintained that there can be no peace negotiations without Ukraine’s involvement. He emphasized that Ukraine, with the support of the US, is working on its next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure lasting peace.
Zelensky also discussed the importance of American security guarantees for Ukraine, stating, “Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees.” In contrast, Putin’s spokesman rejected Zelensky’s idea of exchanging territory for peace, labeling it “impossible.”
As the war continues, Trump mentioned that “at some point, you’re going to have an election” in Ukraine, which many believe is a reference to Zelensky’s upcoming presidential term expiration in May 2024. However, Zelensky has stated that it is impossible to hold elections due to the ongoing Russian invasion and martial law in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, the conflict has escalated into an all-out war with massive casualties on both sides. Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded, with millions more fleeing as refugees.
Despite challenges and differences, both Trump and Putin have expressed a willingness to negotiate, leaving hope that discussions may eventually lead to a resolution of the war.
