WASHINGTON: In an unexpected turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call on Wednesday, agreeing to initiate immediate negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The two leaders, who have been historically at odds over the war, discussed potential steps for a “long-term settlement” following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The call, which lasted one and a half hours, marked a significant shift in relations between Washington and Moscow, signaling a potential thaw after years of heightened tensions. The Kremlin confirmed that both leaders agreed the “time has come to work together” to resolve the crisis, with Putin expressing optimism that a resolution could be reached. During the conversation, Putin also extended a formal invitation for Trump to visit Moscow, while Trump reciprocated by inviting the Russian president to the United States.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, praised Putin for his willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue, even noting that the Russian president had echoed Trump’s own campaign slogan, “COMMON SENSE.” Trump emphasized the urgency of ending the conflict, stating, “We both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.”
The call follows a notable prisoner swap earlier this week, in which Moscow released U.S. teacher Marc Fogel and the U.S. freed Russian cryptocurrency mogul Alexander Vinnik, further signaling a potential shift towards cooperation between the two countries.
Trump also announced that he would be reaching out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him about the call and the discussions regarding peace talks. Furthermore, Trump revealed that he had appointed a team, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations.
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In a statement, Trump expressed his confidence that these new negotiations could pave the way for a peaceful resolution, adding, “We have agreed to work together very closely, and I strongly believe this will be successful.”
The phone call between Trump and Putin represents a dramatic shift in the diplomatic landscape, as both leaders work toward ending one of the most devastating conflicts in Europe in recent decades. While the details of the upcoming negotiations remain unclear, the commitment from both sides to pursue a resolution is a hopeful sign for peace.
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