Trump Announces Start of Ukraine War Talks Following Call with Putin

US President Donald Trump has revealed details of a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, in which both leaders agreed to begin negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said that he and Putin had “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” to put an end to the conflict that has ravaged the region.

Later in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he had also spoken with Trump about achieving a “lasting, reliable peace” in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue. This came as part of a broader exchange of calls between the warring parties, which saw both Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth make statements suggesting it was unlikely Ukraine would ever become a member of NATO—something that will likely disappoint Ukrainian officials who had long hoped for NATO membership as a means of bolstering their security.

Zelensky, meanwhile, revealed plans to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a defense summit in Munich later this week. The summit would focus on Ukraine’s future and further assistance to help the country withstand Russia’s invasion.

Trump used social media to call for an immediate end to the war, labeling it a “ridiculous” conflict marked by “massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION.” He expressed his condolences and support, stating, “God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine.” Though he did not provide a specific date for a face-to-face meeting with Putin, Trump hinted to reporters at the White House that such a meeting would take place in Saudi Arabia. Both leaders extended invitations to visit each other’s capitals.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had expressed his support for Trump’s call to collaborate on ending the war. The phone conversation, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, included an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow, Peskov said. During the call, Trump reiterated his belief that Ukraine would not return to its pre-2014 borders. When questioned about the future of the disputed land, he remarked, “some of that land will come back,” sparking further speculation about the nature of any potential peace agreement.

Trump’s comments were echoed by his Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, who, speaking at a NATO summit earlier, also cast doubt on Ukraine’s NATO prospects, further signifying the administration’s less favorable stance toward Kyiv’s hopes for joining the alliance. This declaration was met with dismay in Ukraine, which has long viewed NATO membership as essential for securing its sovereignty and deterring further Russian aggression.

On the other hand, a group of seven European countries, including Britain, France, and Germany, issued a statement following a meeting in Paris, emphasizing the necessity of their involvement in any future negotiations on Ukraine’s future. The statement, signed by foreign ministers from the seven nations, called for Ukraine’s inclusion in any peace talks, arguing that it was vital to put Ukraine in a “position of strength.” They also sought firm security guarantees for Ukraine and stressed the importance of coordinating their efforts with the United States.

Despite this growing international push for Ukraine’s inclusion in negotiations, the Trump-Putin call has raised questions about whether Kyiv will have a seat at the table. Zelensky has long maintained that any talks regarding Ukraine’s future must include Ukraine itself, a stance that remains a cornerstone of his diplomacy. However, the conversation between Trump and Putin, without direct Ukrainian participation, has raised concerns that Kyiv could be sidelined in future negotiations.

Zelensky, for his part, described his call with Trump as a “good and detailed discussion,” touching on various issues related to the conflict. He also met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who was visiting Kyiv, to discuss further support for Ukraine. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine was fully committed to peace, but emphasized that it would not settle for a security agreement that did not include robust US involvement. “Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees,” Zelensky asserted.

In a recent interview, Zelensky also floated the idea of swapping territories held by Russia in Ukraine for land in Russia’s Kursk region as part of a peace deal. However, this proposal was swiftly rejected by Kremlin spokesman Peskov, who insisted that Russia would not entertain any discussion of territorial exchanges, affirming that Ukrainian forces would eventually be expelled from the occupied territories.

The conflict, which began after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale war in 2022, has left Ukraine severely damaged. Despite initial expectations that Kyiv would fall quickly, Ukrainian forces, bolstered by Western support, have held off Russia’s advances, although Russia controls large portions of eastern and southern Ukraine. Casualty figures remain uncertain, but the war has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people, with no clear end in sight.