In a dramatic diplomatic turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a “long and very productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, in which the two leaders agreed to commence talks to conclude the war in Ukraine “immediately.”
New Washington-Moscow Diplomacy
Trump announced on Truth Social that he and Putin both invited each other to visit their respective nations. Trump also intended to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the call to let him know about the deal.
The Kremlin also confirmed that the call took an hour and a half, calling it an “extraordinary thaw” in U.S.-Russia relations. Moscow said Putin and Trump both recognized that “the time has come to work together.”
Putin was also reported to be hopeful about a “long-term resolution” of the conflict that started with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He also invited Trump to visit Moscow, Kremlin sources said.
Prisoner Swap and Political Messaging
It came after a recent prisoner swap in which Moscow had released U.S. teacher Marc Fogel, and Washington had released Russian cryptocurrency trader Alexander Vinnik. The exchange had been viewed as a potential confidence-building step ahead of diplomatic talks.
Trump praised Putin in the Truth Social post, with the Russian leader even using Trump’s campaign slogan of “COMMON SENSE.”
Immediate Negotiation Plans
Trump cited their mutual aim of putting an end to what he termed “millions of deaths” in the war in Ukraine—a number not confirmed. Trump stated that they both consented to coordinating closely together and initiating formal discussions immediately.
“We have also made the decision to have our teams start negotiating immediately, and we will begin by contacting President Zelensky to inform him of the discussion, and I will do that right now,” Trump stated.
To head the American negotiating team, Trump had appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, saying he was confident of a successful outcome.
Diplomatic Breakthrough? Trump and Putin Agree on Immediate Ukraine Negotiations
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