Trump Engages in Direct Diplomacy with Putin to End Ukraine Conflict
In a significant move towards peace, President Donald Trump has initiated direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
President Trump announced on Wednesday that he held a ’lengthy and highly productive’ phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first direct communication between the two leaders during Trump’s second term. The conversation focused on starting negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, a priority Trump has emphasized to his administration.
Trump stated on social media that the call covered a range of topics including Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, and the power of the dollar. Both leaders expressed a mutual interest in working together, with Trump highlighting the urgency to stop the deaths in the Ukraine-Russia war. However, the actual number of casualties is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, not millions as Trump claimed.
Following the call, Trump informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the discussions and plans to commence negotiations immediately. Zelensky’s office confirmed the hour-long conversation with Trump, though it remains unclear how Ukraine will be integrated into the negotiation process given Trump’s historical skepticism towards Ukraine and Zelensky.
The Kremlin confirmed the call, noting it lasted nearly an hour and a half. Putin invited Trump to Moscow, signaling a potential face-to-face meeting to further the diplomatic efforts. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov emphasized Putin’s view on eliminating the ‘root causes’ of the conflict, suggesting Russia’s unwillingness to settle for a simple ceasefire without broader concessions.
The timing of the call coincides with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement at NATO headquarters in Brussels, indicating that a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is ‘unrealistic.’ Hegseth also suggested that Europe should assume greater responsibility for its defense and that Ukraine’s NATO membership should not be part of a realistic peace plan.
As the world watches, the United Nations has welcomed any efforts towards peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The next steps in these negotiations will be crucial in determining whether a lasting peace can be achieved in the region.