U.S. President Donald Trump announced that negotiations to end the Ukraine war will commence “immediately” following a “lengthy and highly productive” telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday morning. The call marked the first known conversation between the two leaders since Trump took office last month.
The conversation comes as Trump makes clear to his advisers that he is eager to bring the prolonged conflict to an end. Officials in the Trump administration expressed hope that a prisoner exchange on Tuesday might serve as a prelude to renewed diplomatic efforts.
A New Approach To Diplomacy
In a readout of the discussion posted on Truth Social, Trump detailed the topics covered in the conversation, including Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, and the strength of the U.S. dollar.
“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now,” Trump wrote.
Both Washington and Moscow suggested the tone of the conversation was conciliatory.
“President Putin even used my very strong campaign motto of, ‘COMMON SENSE.’ We both believe very strongly in it,” Trump added, implying that Putin had deliberately chosen language to appeal to him.
The Kremlin confirmed that the two leaders spoke for nearly 90 minutes.
Shifting U.S. Priorities In Europe
Trump’s foreign policy team has been signaling a shift in U.S. strategy, including a reevaluation of America’s role in European security. Speaking at a conference in Brussels, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Ukraine joining NATO is “unrealistic” and emphasized that the U.S. is prioritizing its own border security and efforts to deter conflict with China.
Meanwhile, Trump has discussed striking a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to gain American access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for continued U.S. assistance.
A Potential Meeting In Saudi Arabia
Shortly after his conversation with Putin, Trump spoke with Zelensky. His predecessor, Joe Biden, had not spoken to Putin in nearly three years, citing the Russian leader’s status as a war criminal. The last U.S. president to visit Russia was Barack Obama in 2013, while Putin last visited the U.S. in 2015 for a United Nations summit.
Later on Wednesday, Trump suggested that he and Putin could meet in Saudi Arabia but stressed that no final decision had been made.
“We think we’re going to probably meet in Saudi Arabia, the first meeting,” Trump said, adding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would play a role in the discussions. “We know the crown prince, and I think it’d be a very good place to be.”
A date has not yet been set, but Trump indicated the meeting could happen in the “not too distant future.” He also stated that he has not yet committed to visiting Ukraine.
Asked whether Zelensky would attend the talks with Putin, Trump suggested the Ukrainian leader may not be present for the initial meeting. “Probably we’ll have a first meeting and then we’ll see what we can do about the second meeting,” he said. “I would think about going, I’d think about it, no problem.”
Trump Team Sees Diplomatic Opportunity
Steve Witkoff, who will be a top negotiator for Trump, pointed to the recent release of American prisoner Marc Fogel as an indication of what may be possible in U.S.-Russia negotiations.
“I think that’s maybe a sign about how that working relationship between President Trump and President Putin will be in the future, and what that may portend for the world at large, for conflict and so forth,” Witkoff said. “I think they had a great friendship, and I think now it’s going to continue, and it’s a really good thing for the world.”
Witkoff privately met with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the meeting, CNN reported. The development underscores the Trump administration’s desire to engage directly with the Kremlin in its pursuit of a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
