President Trump announced on Wednesday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin discussions “immediately” to put an end to Moscow’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
“[W]e want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine,” Trump, 78, wrote on Truth Social. He stated that Europe’s largest and most deadly conflict since World War II “would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. “No more lives should be lost!”
Trump went on to clarify that the negotiations would commence with a call to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, informing him of the conversation. “I will be doing that right now,” Trump posted. He also revealed that the U.S. delegation for any potential peace talks would be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Zelenskyy confirmed that he and Trump had “a meaningful conversation” about potential paths to peace, discussing “our readiness to work together at the team level, and Ukraine’s technological capabilities—including drones and other advanced industries.”
“We also spoke about my discussion with [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent and the preparation of a new document on security, economic cooperation, and resource partnership. President Trump shared details of his conversation with Putin,” Zelenskyy continued.
“No one wants peace more than Ukraine,” he concluded. “Together with the U.S., we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace. As President Trump said, let’s get it done.”
Trump echoed Zelenskyy’s optimism about the conversation, calling it “very good.”
“He, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE,” Trump said of Zelenskyy. “We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the War, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the Delegation. I am hopeful that the results of that meeting will be positive.”
“It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION,” the president reiterated. “God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!”
Trump’s phone call with Putin on Wednesday came after he successfully brokered a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia. The deal saw the release of American teacher Marc Fogel in exchange for Russian crypto site leader Alexander Vinnik, who had pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of money laundering conspiracy.
Trump also mentioned that he and Putin had discussed the possibility of “visiting each other’s nations.”
Other topics that were covered in the conversation included “the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.”
“We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!” Trump shared. “We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together… President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, ‘COMMON SENSE.’ We both believe very strongly in it.”
Trump had previously mentioned over the weekend that he had spoken with Putin but refrained from sharing details about the discussions.
On Tuesday, Trump announced he would be sending Bessent to meet with Zelenskyy. Special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, told The Post last week that Trump is eager to initiate conversations focused on securing billions of dollars worth of rare-earth minerals from Ukraine in exchange for U.S. security guarantees.
{Matzav.com}