KEY POINTS
- Trump and Putin agree to start negotiations “immediately” to end the Ukraine.
- Trump briefs Zelensky on his discussion with Putin.
- US Defence Secretary says that Ukraine regaining pre-2014 borders is unrealistic.
- Ukraine’s NATO membership is not a priority for the US.
- Trump seeks access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals worth $500 billion.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to start negotiations “immediately” to end the war in Ukraine, following a lengthy and productive phone conversation on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump described the call as “lengthy and highly productive,” noting that the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including the Ukraine war, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, and global financial stability.
“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelensky of Ukraine to inform him of the conversation,” Trump wrote.
The Kremlin confirmed the call lasted nearly 90 minutes and that both leaders had adopted a conciliatory tone. “President Putin even used my very strong campaign motto of ‘COMMON SENSE.’ We both believe very strongly in it,” Trump added.
First conversation since Trump took office
The call marked the first known direct communication between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House last month.
According to The New York Times, Trump had been signalling for weeks his intention to engage with Putin as he seeks to bring the Ukraine conflict to a swift end.
The Financial Times reported that Trump administration officials were encouraged by a recent prisoner exchange, which saw the release of American Marc Fogel, suggesting that it could signal renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Steve Witkoff, one of Trump’s top negotiators on the conflict, said as quoted by CNN that the move was “an indication of what the possibilities are” for future US-Russia relations.
“I think that’s maybe a sign about how that working relationship between President Trump and President Putin will be in the future, and what that may portend for the world at large,” Witkoff said.
“I think they had a great friendship, and I think now it’s going to continue, and it’s a really good thing for the world.”
Trump’s call with Zelensky
Shortly after his conversation with Putin, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to brief him on the discussion. Kyiv later confirmed the call but did not provide further details.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Zelensky expressed scepticism about Russia’s intentions, saying Putin was “not preparing for peace” and that the Kremlin continued to wage war against Ukraine.
Shifting US policy on Ukraine
As Trump moves to reshape US foreign policy, his administration has signalled a shift in Washington’s stance on Ukraine’s future.
Speaking at a security conference in Brussels, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the idea of Ukraine regaining its pre-2014 borders was unrealistic and that NATO membership for Kyiv was no longer a priority for the US.
“The US will no longer prioritise European and Ukrainian security at the expense of our own,” Hegseth was quoted as saying by Politico.
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He emphasised that Trump’s foreign policy would focus more on securing US borders and countering China, rather than deepening military commitments in Europe.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that Trump had floated the idea of striking a deal with Kyiv, offering American assistance in exchange for access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals worth $500 billion.
Trump’s outreach to Putin marks a stark departure from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who had not spoken directly to the Russian leader in nearly three years. The Biden administration had maintained that there was little diplomatic value in engaging with Putin, whom Biden had labelled a “war criminal.”
The last US president to visit Russia was Barack Obama in 2013 for a G20 summit, while Putin’s last visit to the United States was in 2015 for UN talks.
