In a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to commence immediate negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This development follows a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call between the two leaders, during which they discussed various topics, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and artificial intelligence.

 

Trump stated that both leaders are committed to working closely together and have agreed to visit each other's countries to address the deep tensions that have persisted since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized the urgency of halting the "millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine" and expressed a strong desire to achieve peace.

 

Following the call with Putin, President Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to inform him of the conversation and discuss potential pathways to peace. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the dialogue and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine in achieving a meaningful resolution to the conflict.

 

The announcement has raised concerns among European allies, who insist that any peace agreement must involve Ukraine and its European partners to ensure a just and lasting resolution. The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Spain emphasized the necessity of Kyiv's participation in the negotiations.