Former President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that he had an extensive phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the Russian leader agreed to start immediate negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.Trump, posting on Truth Social, shared details of the discussion, emphasizing that both leaders agreed to work closely together and even considered reciprocal visits to each other’s countries.
“Our teams will begin negotiations right away, and I will personally reach out to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine to update him on our conversation,” Trump stated. He added that key members of his administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, would lead the peace efforts.
The war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has resulted in widespread devastation. Throughout his campaign, Trump consistently claimed that had he been in office at the time, the war would never have occurred. He also vowed to bring it to a swift end if re-elected.Reflecting on U.S.-Russia relations, Trump noted that his conversation with Putin touched on historical ties, particularly the nations’ cooperation during World War II.
“We talked about the incredible history of our nations and how we fought together to defeat our enemies,” he wrote. “Russia lost millions in that war, and we, too, suffered great losses. We both agreed it’s time to prevent further unnecessary deaths.”
The Kremlin released its own readout of the call, indicating that Putin extended an invitation to Trump to visit Moscow. The statement also confirmed that both leaders discussed potential pathways to a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Shortly after his talk with Putin, Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, describing their conversation as productive.“He, like President Putin, wants peace,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We covered several key topics related to the war, but most importantly, we discussed the upcoming peace meeting in Munich. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be leading the U.S. delegation there.”
Expressing optimism about the negotiations, Trump reiterated his call for an end to the conflict.“This war has caused massive and unnecessary loss of life. It is time to stop the destruction and bring peace. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine,” he declared.
In addition to peace talks, Trump also took the opportunity to thank Putin for facilitating the release of American citizen Marc Fogel. Fogel had been imprisoned in Russia after being convicted for possessing marijuana at a Moscow airport in 2021.
Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz confirmed that U.S. and Russian officials had negotiated an exchange to secure Fogel’s return, though he did not disclose the details of what the U.S. offered in return.
Acknowledging Putin’s role in the release, Trump wrote, “I personally welcomed Marc Fogel back at the White House last night. Millions of lives have already been lost in this war—something that never should have happened. But now, it must end. I believe these negotiations will lead to a peaceful resolution soon.”