US President Donald Trump has announced that he held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an effort to initiate immediate negotiations to end the ongoing war.
In a statement on his social media platform, Trump said both leaders had agreed to begin talks without delay. He added that he would be speaking with Zelenskyy to inform him of the conversation with Putin.
“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now,” Trump said.
According to the Kremlin, Trump and Putin spoke by telephone for nearly an hour and a half and agreed to meet in person. During their conversation, Putin reportedly invited Trump to Moscow.
Zelenskyy later confirmed on social media that he had a “meaningful” conversation with Trump regarding efforts to end Russian aggression and establish a lasting and reliable peace.
Trump has tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with leading the negotiations, according to a report.
“I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful,” Trump stated.
Unlike Trump, his predecessor Joe Biden did not engage in direct communication with Putin for nearly three years. The last US president to visit Russia was Barack Obama, who attended a G20 summit there in 2013.
Trump, who has repeatedly highlighted his rapport with Putin, reiterated that his administration had been engaged in “very serious” discussions with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine.
“We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war,” he told reporters at the White House.
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