Former U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, marking their first known conversation since early 2022, according to The New York Post. While Trump has repeatedly expressed his commitment to ending the war, he has not outlined any specific plans for how he intends to do so.
In a recent interview aboard Air Force One, Trump referred to the conflict as a “bloodbath” and mentioned that his team had engaged in “some very good talks” on the matter. When asked how many times he and Putin had spoken, Trump declined to comment, saying it was best “not to say.” However, he emphasized that Putin wanted to see the violence stop, stating, “He [Putin] wants to see people stop dying.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later commented that “many different communications” have been taking place through various channels, though he did not confirm or deny any direct talks between the two leaders.
The war in Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was ousted in the Maidan Revolution, leading Russia to annex Crimea. Tensions escalated in 2022 when Putin sent troops into Ukraine, calling it a “special military operation” aimed at protecting Russian speakers and countering what he described as the threat of Ukraine joining NATO.
Trump has consistently promised to end the war, but the specifics of his approach remain unclear. He has indicated a willingness to meet with Putin to discuss peace, although the time and location for such a summit remain uncertain. Reports have suggested that Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates could be potential venues for the meeting.
In June 2022, Putin set out his conditions for peace, demanding Ukraine abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from territories claimed by Russia. Despite this, reports have surfaced that Putin is open to discussing a peace deal with Trump, though he continues to rule out any major territorial concessions.
Trump also mentioned in the interview that he may meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the near future to explore ways to end the conflict. He reaffirmed his belief that the war must end quickly, stating, “Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing.”
