Trump Says Putin Agreed to Ukraine War Talks ‘Immediately’ After Lengthy Call

Image Credentials: Generated with AI (DALL 3) · February 12, 2025 at 21:50 PM

By Staff Writer with Agencies

U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that during a recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders agreed to initiate immediate negotiations regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump announced the details of the call in a post on Truth Social, offering an insight into the discussions that spanned several topics beyond just Ukraine.

In the post, Trump emphasized that while the conversation covered a range of issues—including the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, and the global power of the dollar—Ukraine was a primary focus. “But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the war with Russia, Ukraine,” Trump stated, although his claim of millions of deaths starkly contrasts with international estimates, including one from the U.S. Congress last August, which placed the death toll much lower. As of recent reports, Ukraine has claimed just over 45,000 military casualties.

Trump continued, “We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s nations,” signaling a potential thaw in U.S.-Russia relations. The former president also announced that both sides had agreed to start negotiations immediately. “We will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now,” Trump wrote.

Key figures within the U.S. government will lead the negotiations, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call, noting that Putin was open to hosting U.S. representatives in Russia to continue discussions on the war. “Putin and Trump have also agreed to continue personal contacts, including organizing a personal meeting,” Peskov stated, adding that Putin had invited Trump to Moscow.

Zelenskyy’s “Meaningful” Call with Trump

I had a meaningful conversation with @POTUS. We long talked about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together at the team level, and Ukraine’s technological capabilities—including drones and other advanced industries. I am grateful to President Trump… pic.twitter.com/2SIOTX3jEp

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 12, 2025

Following the Trump-Putin call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a “meaningful” conversation took place between him and Trump. Zelenskyy described the call as productive, noting discussions on potential opportunities for peace and collaboration between Ukraine and the U.S. “We long talked about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together at the team level, and Ukraine’s technological capabilities—including drones and other advanced industries,” Zelenskyy said in a post on social media.

Trump responded to the Ukrainian president’s remarks, affirming that both he and Putin were committed to making peace. “Like President Putin, Zelenskyy wants to make PEACE,” Trump remarked, highlighting upcoming talks scheduled for the Munich Security Conference, where U.S. officials and Zelenskyy will meet over the weekend. This includes discussions between Zelenskyy, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which are expected to address potential pathways to resolve the conflict.

U.S. Defense Officials Weigh In

The ongoing diplomatic push comes after recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who stated that Ukraine regaining its pre-2014 borders is an “unrealistic objective.” In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, and Hegseth’s comments have sparked debate about the long-term goals of the U.S. in the conflict. He also indicated that NATO membership for Ukraine, which has been a major point of contention throughout the war, is not seen as a “realistic outcome” in any peace settlement.

These developments set the stage for further high-level discussions, with Zelenskyy’s upcoming meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference likely to be pivotal. As the diplomatic push to end the war intensifies, the world is watching closely to see whether these new talks between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine will help pave the way for a resolution—or whether the conflict will continue to drag on.

The calls between Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy signal a potential shift in the dynamics of the conflict, with major powers trying to broker a lasting peace. However, with entrenched positions on all sides, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will yield meaningful results.