US President Donald Trump has announced that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. During the call, both leaders agreed to initiate discussions aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that he and Putin had decided to have their respective teams begin negotiations immediately and extended invitations for each leader to visit their respective capitals.
Following the conversation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he had also spoken with Trump about the need for a “lasting, reliable peace.”
The talks between the two sides come as both Trump and his Defence Secretary have expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, a statement likely to be disappointing for Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would meet with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a defense summit on Ukraine in Munich this Friday.
On social media, Trump emphasized, “It is time to end this senseless war, which has caused massive and unnecessary death and destruction. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!”
While he did not specify a date for a direct meeting with Putin, Trump later told reporters at the White House, “We’ll meet in Saudi Arabia.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin supported Trump’s stance on the need for collaboration. The phone conversation between Trump and Putin lasted nearly 90 minutes, during which the Russian president extended an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow.
In the White House briefing, Trump also expressed that it was unlikely Ukraine would return to its pre-2014 borders. However, when asked by the BBC, he stated, “Some of that land will come back.”
Trump agreed with his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who earlier at a NATO summit suggested that Ukraine’s accession to NATO was unlikely. “I think that’s probably true,” Trump remarked.
Meanwhile, the UK government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told ITV that the UK’s support for Kyiv remains “steadfast.”
BBC correspondent James Waterhouse reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech is likely to have been a significant blow to Kyiv’s morale.
While it has long been apparent that the new US administration is less supportive of Ukraine compared to its predecessor, Waterhouse suggests that Hegseth’s comments would have likely pleased Moscow.
The denial of NATO membership, the suggestion that Ukraine cannot win, and uncertainty over the policing of a future frozen front line seem to offer tangible gains for Russia after 11 years of aggression towards Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently stated that there can be “no talks on Ukraine without Ukraine.”
However, the phone call between Trump and Putin occurred in Zelensky’s absence.
Zelensky later described his call with Trump as a “good and detailed discussion” on various issues, noting that he also met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is visiting Kyiv.
He emphasized Ukraine’s desire for peace, writing that “no one wants peace more than Ukraine” and highlighting the ongoing efforts with the US to halt Russian aggression and achieve lasting peace.
Zelensky also confirmed that both sides had agreed to maintain further communication and plan upcoming meetings.
The conversation between Zelensky and the US president lasted about an hour, according to AFP.
In an interview with The Guardian on Tuesday, Zelensky proposed that Russian-held territories in Ukraine could be exchanged for Ukrainian-held land in Russia’s Kursk region as part of a potential peace agreement.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea, saying, “Russia has never discussed and will not discuss the exchange of its territory. Ukrainian forces will be expelled from this territory, and all who are not destroyed will be expelled.”
Zelensky also stressed the importance of US involvement in any security agreement for Ukraine, stating, “Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees.”
Separately, Trump suggested that Ukraine might hold elections “at some point,” referring to Zelensky’s presidential term, which is set to expire in May 2024.
However, Zelensky has stated that the ongoing Russian invasion and martial law in Ukraine make it impossible to hold a new election at this time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy to engage in negotiations with Moscow.
After the ousting of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president in 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula and provided support to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, leading to intense conflict.
The situation escalated into full-scale war when Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
While Russia’s attempt to capture the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was unsuccessful, Russian forces have gained control of approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory in the eastern and southern regions. Moscow has also conducted widespread airstrikes across the country.
In response, Ukraine has carried out artillery and drone strikes, as well as a ground offensive targeting Russia’s western Kursk region.
Due to the secrecy maintained by both the Russian and Ukrainian governments, accurate casualty figures are difficult to obtain.
However, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people, predominantly soldiers, have been killed or wounded. Additionally, millions of Ukrainian civilians have been forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge abroad.
