President Donald Trump announced that negotiations to end the Ukraine war will start “immediately” following a “lengthy and productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday morning.
This marked the first known conversation between the leaders since Trump took office last month. Trump has made it clear to his advisers that he aims to bring the Ukraine conflict to a swift resolution.
Diplomatic Efforts Gain Momentum
Trump administration officials indicated that Tuesday’s prisoner exchange could signal renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the war, now nearing its fourth year.
“I love our country and I am so happy to be back.” –Marc Fogel 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/LXqEmZIfsF
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 12, 2025
As Trump and Putin reestablish dialogue after years of silence, the details of Trump’s settlement plan are beginning to emerge.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump shared, “We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.” He added that both nations had agreed to work closely and that negotiations would begin immediately. Trump also confirmed he would inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of their conversation.
Conciliatory Tone in Talks
Both Washington and Moscow described the discussion as cordial. Trump noted, “President Putin even used my very strong campaign motto, ‘COMMON SENSE.’ We both believe in it strongly.” The Kremlin confirmed that the leaders spoke for nearly 90 minutes.
For weeks, Trump had expressed a desire to speak with Putin as he worked toward resolving the Ukraine conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. officials in Europe have outlined positions on how the war’s conclusion might take shape. Speaking in Brussels, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Kyiv joining NATO was unrealistic. He emphasized that U.S. priorities were shifting toward border security and deterring conflict with China rather than focusing on European and Ukrainian security.
Strategic Deals and Future Relations
Trump has discussed securing a deal with Ukraine that grants the U.S. access to its valuable rare earth minerals as compensation for continued American assistance. Shortly after his call with Putin, Trump spoke with Zelenskyy to discuss potential terms.
Steve Witkoff, a key Trump negotiator, cited the recent release of detained American Marc Fogel as a sign of progress in U.S.-Russia relations and potential advancements toward peace in Ukraine.
