Janice R. Andrews
In a significant development, former US President Donald Trump announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to begin immediate negotiations to end the Ukraine war. The two leaders held a lengthy phone call on Wednesday, discussing not only the ongoing conflict but also broader global issues, including energy, artificial intelligence, and Middle East stability.
Trump revealed the details of the conversation in a post on Truth Social, stating that both leaders prioritized ending the devastating war in Ukraine. “We want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the war with Russia, Ukraine,” Trump said, though official death tolls remain lower. He added that their respective teams would start negotiations “immediately,” with plans to inform Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the discussions.
The former president also disclosed that key US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, would lead the US delegation in the talks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call, noting that Putin is open to hosting US representatives in Russia and continuing personal contacts, including a potential meeting in Moscow.
In a follow-up, Zelenskyy described his call with Trump as “meaningful,” expressing gratitude for Trump’s interest in achieving peace. The Ukrainian president highlighted discussions on technological cooperation, including drones and advanced industries, as well as readiness to collaborate at the team level.
This diplomatic push comes amid skepticism from US officials about Ukraine’s ability to regain its pre-2014 territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed nearly a decade ago. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently stated that such an outcome is “unrealistic,” adding that NATO membership for Ukraine is unlikely in any settlement.
The developments signal a potential shift in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, which has raged since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelenskyy is set to meet US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, where the Ukrainian conflict is expected to dominate discussions.
As global attention remains focused on the war, the prospect of renewed negotiations offers a glimmer of hope for peace, though significant challenges lie ahead. The international community will be closely watching the next steps in this high-stakes diplomatic effort.
