Trump, Russia’s Putin Discuss Ukraine, Agree on Need for Negotiations
Following a prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, President Donald Trump revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call Wednesday, during which they discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, The Associated Press reports.
Trump said that both leaders agreed on the urgent need to bring an end to the war and expressed a desire to begin negotiations towards that goal.
In a social media post, Trump highlighted the potential benefits of cooperation between the two nations, emphasizing the mutual desire to halt the loss of life in the conflict. He indicated that both he and Putin agreed to task their respective teams with initiating negotiations promptly and that he would inform Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky of the conversation.
The White House has not yet clarified the extent of Ukraine’s involvement in any potential US-Russia negotiations.
The phone call occurred shortly after the release of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia for over three years on drug charges. In exchange, Russia secured the release of Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian citizen who pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The Kremlin confirmed the exchange, stating that a Russian citizen had been freed in the US in return for Fogel, but refrained from identifying the individual until their arrival in Russia.
Trump welcomed Fogel back to the United States at the White House on Tuesday evening. Speaking to reporters, he suggested that Fogel’s release, facilitated by Russia, could be a positive step towards achieving a peace agreement in Ukraine.
“We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually,” Trump said. “I hope that’s the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war.”
The Kremlin echoed this sentiment, noting that the prisoner exchange could contribute to strengthening mutual trust between the two nations.
