United States President Donald Trump has been in talks with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia in an effort to negotiate ending the war between the countries.
Trump said his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin was “highly productive”, and that they both agreed to wanting the millions of deaths taking place due to the Russia/Ukraine war to stop.
“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s nations,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“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.”
After his conversation with Putin, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the phone and set up a meeting in Munich between Zelenskyy, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
“I am hopeful that the results of that meeting will be positive. It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION,” Trump said.
Zelenskyy confirmed the conversation with Trump and said he hopes these negotiations can bring the countries closer to peace.
“I am grateful to the President for his genuine interest in our shared opportunities, in how we can work together to bring real peace closer,” he said.
The conversations came as Trump’s defence secretary, Pete Hegseth laid out the administration's ideas about European defence and the future of Ukraine at a meeting in Brussels.
Hegseth said the U.S.’s top priority is to stop the fighting and reach an enduring peace.
“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine,” he said.
“But we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.
“A durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again.
“That said, the United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.”
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