Trump speaks with Putin, says negotiations to end war in Ukraine will begin ‘immediately’

President Trump spoke Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and said the two agreed to “start negotiations immediately” about the war in Ukraine.

Trump posted on Truth Social that he had a “lengthy and highly productive phone call” with Putin. It is the first publicly disclosed phone call between the two men since Trump took office. Trump said they discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, the dollar and other topics.

“But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine,” Trump wrote. “President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, ‘COMMON SENSE.’ We both believe very strongly in it. We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations.”

Trump said the two leaders agreed to have their teams begin negotiations on bringing an end to the war in Ukraine, which began roughly three years ago when Russian forces invaded the country.

Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a short time after he got off the phone with Putin. 

The Ukrainian president said the two leaders “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 for his interest in what we can accomplish together,” Zelensky posted on social media.

“No one wants peace more than Ukraine,” he added. “Together with the U.S., we are charting our next steps to stop Russian aggression and ensure a lasting, reliable peace. As President Trump said, let’s get it done.”

Trump said he would ask Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Michael Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations.

“No more lives should be lost! I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House,” Trump wrote.

The call took place one day after the release of Marc Fogel, an American citizen who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than three years. The U.S. is expected to release Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national who pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Trump has been coy when asked in recent weeks whether he had spoken to Putin, declining to disclose whether the two leaders were in touch. 

The president campaigned on a pledge to end the war in Ukraine, which has been raging since Russian forces invaded the country in February 2022. At one point, he suggested he would be able to end the war before he even took office.

The president’s call with Putin signals negotiations may be getting more serious. 

Trump and his allies in Congress have been skeptical about ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, with the president suggesting Europe should play a more central role in backing Kyiv. 

At the same time, Trump last month threatened sanctions against Moscow if it did not come to the table to negotiate a ceasefire.

Vice President Vance is expected to meet with Zelensky this week during a trip to Europe for the Munich Security Conference. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was also dispatched to Ukraine to meet with Zelensky as the U.S. pursues a deal for more access to Ukraine’s critical minerals.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier Wednesday with NATO and Ukrainian defense ministers that it was “unrealistic” for Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders as part of a ceasefire agreement with Russia. Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that sparked international backlash.

Updated at 1:23 p.m. EST