US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders agreed to initiate peace negotiations on the Ukraine war “immediately.”
In a detailed statement shared on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump emphasized the urgency of ending the war, citing the loss of millions of lives. “we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine,” he wrote. He further stated that both leaders agreed to work closely, even considering visits to each other’s nations.
As part of the agreement, Trump said both sides would immediately set up teams to negotiate a path toward peace. He named key figures from his administration to lead the U.S. efforts, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador Steve Witkoff.
The first step, according to Trump, would be to reach out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and inform him of the discussions. While Ukraine’s stance on these talks remains unclear, Trump expressed confidence that negotiations would lead to a resolution.
Beyond the war in Ukraine, Trump said his conversation with Putin covered a broad range of topics, including global security, artificial intelligence, energy, and the role of the U.S. dollar. He also noted that both leaders reflected on their nations’ shared history, particularly their alliance during World War II.
Trump highlighted Putin’s use of his campaign slogan, “COMMON SENSE,” as a sign of shared understanding. He also suggested that future visits between U.S. and Russian leaders could be on the table, indicating a willingness to rebuild relations between the two countries.
Trump also credited Putin for the release of Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who had been imprisoned in Russia. He described personally welcoming Fogel at the White House and thanked Putin for facilitating his return.
