Washington: In a recent development, US President Donald Trump disclosed that he engaged in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discussion aimed at negotiating an end to the hostilities, as reported by The New York Post.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Trump made this revelation during an exclusive interview conducted aboard the presidential aircraft, Air Force One. The newspaper quoted Trump expressing his belief that Putin is concerned about the ongoing violence and loss of life on the battlefield. Trump stated that Putin wants to halt the deaths of young soldiers caught up in the conflict.

Trump emphasized that the conflict, now extending into its third year, would not have occurred had he been in office in 2022. He underscored his favorable relationship with Putin, contrasting it with what he described as an embarrassing tenure of his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump mentioned having a specific plan to end the war in Ukraine, h
oping for a swift resolution to save lives.

During the interview, Trump instructed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to initiate meetings aimed at resolving the conflict, emphasizing the urgency due to the ongoing loss of lives. Trump noted that both sides were eager to meet and resolve the issue.

Furthermore, US Vice President J.D. Vance is slated to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky at the upcoming Munich Security Conference. Trump also announced that Washington is engaged in constructive negotiations with both Moscow and Kiev, expressing optimism that the outcomes might exceed expectations.

While Putin has shown willingness to engage with Trump to find a solution, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that no discussions have begun regarding a potential meeting between the leaders of the two nations.