Negotiations to end Russia-Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’ — Trump

US President Donald Trump, On Wednesday, said negotiations to end the Ukraine war will start “immediately” after holding a “lengthy and highly productive” telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US President said they both agreed that “we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine”.

The call, which is the first known conversation between the presidents since Trump assumed office last month, came as Trump made clear to his advisers he wants to bring the Ukraine conflict to a swift end.

Trump administration officials said they hoped a prisoner “exchange” on Tuesday could portend renewed efforts to end the war, which is about to enter its fourth year.

Trump’s post on Truth Social, read, “I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.

“We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many! We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together.

But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, “COMMON SENSE.” We both believe very strongly in it. 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.

“I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful.

“Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost! I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!”

As American officials travel in Europe this week, they have begun taking clearer positions on how the conclusion of the Ukraine war might look.

Speaking to a conference in Brussels, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security as the Trump administration shifts its attention to securing US borders and deterring war with China.

Meanwhile, Trump has spoken of striking a deal with Ukraine’s Zelensky for American access to the country’s valuable rare earth minerals as payment for continued American assistance.

Trump spoke with Zelensky midday, shortly after getting off the phone with Putin.

His predecessor, President Joe Biden, hadn’t spoken to his Russian counterpart in nearly three years, believing there was little to be gained in speaking to a leader he’d deemed a war criminal.

The last US President to visit Russia was Barack Obama in 2013 when he attended a G20 summit.

Putin last visited in the United States in 2015 to attend United Nations talks.

On his part, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said the pair discussed the preparation of a new document on security, economic cooperation and resource partnership.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the pair talked about opportunities to achieve peace and discussed their readiness to work together at the team level.

“No one wants peace more than Ukraine,” Zelensky added in a post on X.