President Donald Trump revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to begin peace negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The announcement came via a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, on Wednesday.
Trump shared that he and Putin spoke over the phone for nearly 90 minutes, with both leaders expressing their desire to halt the war and its devastating impact. According to Trump’s statement, both agreed to work closely on the matter, including potential visits to each other’s countries in the future. Trump added that one of the next steps would involve informing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the conversation.
The former president also made headlines with a claim that Putin had used his campaign slogan, “COMMON SENSE,” during their call, showing a level of agreement on the direction they intend to pursue in the peace talks. Trump highlighted the urgency of stopping the millions of deaths caused by the war, although he cited an unverified death toll figure.
The discussions between the two leaders follow a recent prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia. In the swap, Russia released U.S. schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been held for over three years. In return, the U.S. freed Russian cryptocurrency entrepreneur Alexander Vinnik, who had been detained on charges related to money laundering. Many observers view the swap as a confidence-building measure that could open doors for more diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.
Trump’s team for the negotiations includes key figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador Steve Witkoff. These individuals will play central roles in facilitating dialogue between the U.S. and Russia as they work toward a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The move signals a shift in U.S.-Russia relations, with a potential path to de-escalating the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Both leaders have emphasized the importance of peaceful negotiations and a long-term settlement, though the success of these talks remains uncertain and will depend on the willingness of all parties involved to make meaningful compromises.
