Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine will begin negotiations to end the war.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, spoke about the phone conversation he had with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and announced that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately begin negotiations to achieve a ceasefire and, more importantly, the END of the war.”

“Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately. I have communicated this to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, and President Alexander Stubb of Finland, during a call with me, immediately after the call with President Putin. The Vatican, represented by the Pope, has declared it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!,” expressed Trump.

Through a post on his social media, the president assured that the exchange was “very positive” and reiterated that Russia and Ukraine will immediately start a dialogue process to reach a cessation of hostilities and, above all, the end of the war. He also emphasized that the conditions of the agreement will be defined by both nations, as “only they know the crucial details that no one else could understand in a negotiation.”

“The tone and spirit of the conversation were excellent. If it weren't, I would say so now, better than later. Russia wants to trade on a large scale with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ ends, and I agree,” stated Trump.

The American president also noted that “there is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is unlimited. Similarly, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary of trade, in the process of rebuilding its country.”

Putin's message

Earlier, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, thanked Trump for his support in resuming direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv, and highlighted that the Republican leader valued Russia's disposition toward peace, although he indicated that the most important thing is to define how to achieve it.

“We have agreed with President Trump that Russia proposes, is willing, to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum on a possible and future peace treaty,” explained Putin to Russian media, after a phone call of more than two hours with his American counterpart.

He added that such an agreement would contemplate “certain positions on the principles of settlement and the timelines for signing a possible peace treaty.” “This will include a possible ceasefire for a specific period of time if the corresponding agreements are reached,” he remarked.

Putin emphasized that “the key lies in the Russian and Ukrainian sides showing the greatest desire to achieve peace, and finding compromises that satisfy both parties.” While he reiterated Moscow's support for a peaceful resolution, he also insisted that for Russia it is important to “eliminate the original causes of the crisis.”

The Russian leader highlighted that the resumption of negotiations with Ukraine last Friday in Istanbul, after three years of interruption, is a sign that “we are on the right track.” “The contacts between the participants in the Istanbul negotiations resumed and this allows us to assume that, in general, we are on the right track,” he noted.

He also described the exchange with Trump as “very useful,” “very frank,” and “very constructive,” mentioning that the American shared his vision on the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine.