Trump says Russia agrees to ‘immediately’ begin negotiations to end war in Ukraine

President Donald Trump said he had a “lengthy” call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, which included the Russian leader agreeing to “immediately” begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine.

“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday. “We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful.” 

Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022, when Russia first invaded its neighboring nation. Trump repeatedly had said while on the campaign trail that if he had been president in 2022 the war would not have broken out – vowing to end it if re-elected. 

Trump added in his Truth Social post that the pair discussed the U.S.-Russia relationship going back decades, including Russia’s assistance in ending World War II. 

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“We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!” Trump added in his Truth Social post of his call with Putin. 

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“We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together. But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, ‘COMMON SENSE.’

Trump’s announcement follows the return of Marc Fogel to the U.S. on Wednesday evening after the American had been imprisoned after being found guilty of possessing marijuana while at a Russian airport in 2021. 

Trump’s national security advisor, Michael Waltz, had said the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Fogel’s release, although he did not disclose what the U.S. was giving up.

Trump thanked Putin in his Truth Social post on Wednesday for Fogel’s release, as well as the phone call to discuss negotiations. 

“Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. 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,” he wrote. “I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!”