Pres. Trump & Russia’s Pres. Putin Discuss Ending War in Ukraine

I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.

U.S. President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post on Wednesday following a “lengthy and highly productive” conversation with the Russian president. Pres. Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Why It Matters: The over 60-minute conversation between Pres. Trump and Pres. Putin marked a shift in U.S. policy toward Russia and Ukraine. Previously, Pres. Biden had not spoken to the Russian leader for the last three years as he wouldn’t meet without a signal of Pres. Putin being open to end the war. Now, Pres. Trump shared that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will start “immediately.”

• Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy shared on Wednesday that he had “a meaningful conversation” with Pres. Trump in which they discussed “opportunities to achieve peace.” He added, “I am grateful to President Trump.” (AP)
• A Kremlin spokesperson said on Wednesday that “the Russian president supported one of the main theses of the U.S. president that the time has come for our two countries to work together,” adding, “The Russian president invited the U.S. president to visit Moscow and expressed readiness to host U.S. officials in Russia for issues of mutual interest, naturally including Ukraine, the Ukrainian settlement.” (AP)
• Vice President JD Vance will meet with Ukraine’s Pres. Zelenskyy on Friday in Munich.

Read More: Trump Says He and Putin Agreed to Begin Talks on Ending Ukraine War (The Wall Street Journal)

Trump upends US policy on Ukraine and says he and Putin have agreed to begin talks on ending the war (The Associated Press)