Donald Trump is optimistic about progress in talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine but declined to disclose any details
The President of the United States (U.S.) – Donald Trump, expressed optimism about progress in talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine but declined to disclose details about any direct communications with the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that he had been in contact with Putin, marking what would be the first officially acknowledged conversation between the two leaders since early 2022.
Trump said, “I’ve had it. Let’s just say I’ve had it… And I expect to have many more conversations. We have to get that war ended. If we are talking, I don’t want to tell you about the conversations.”
He further said, “I do believe we’re making progress. We want to stop the Ukraine-Russia war.”
The Kremlin has not officially confirmed any recent direct communication between Trump and Putin. When questioned about the matter, Kremlin Spokesperson – Dmitry Peskov told the State News Agency – TASS, “Many different communications are emerging. I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it.” The U.S. National Security Adviser – Mike Waltz also remained tight-lipped when asked about the reported conversations, stating that “there certainly are a lot of sensitive conversations going on.”
Waltz suggested that Trump might leverage economic tools such as sanctions and tariffs to pressure Putin into negotiations. He also hinted at potential discussions about U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth resources as compensation for continued American financial and military support.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the war but has yet to publicly outline his strategy. He has indicated a willingness to meet with Putin, though no date or venue has been confirmed. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are seen by Russia as possible venues for a Summit. Additionally, the Head of the Russian Parliament’s International Affairs Committee – Leonid Slutsky, has said that preparations for a possible meeting were at an advanced stage and could take place as early as February or March’25.
In the coming days, Senior U.S. Officials, including Secretary of State – Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense – Pete Hegseth, Vice President – JD Vance and Special Envoy for the Ukraine War – Keith Kellogg, are set to visit Europe, partly to discuss the ongoing conflict.
On 14th June’24, Putin outlined his conditions for an immediate ceasefire, demanding that Ukraine renounce its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) aspirations and withdraw from four regions that Russia claims as its own. While Trump has not explicitly addressed these conditions, sources suggest that Moscow remains open to negotiating with him but is unwilling to make significant territorial concessions.
Trump is also expected to meet the President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming week to discuss a potential resolution to the war. Zelenskyy has indicated that Ukraine could offer access to its rare earth minerals in exchange for continued U.S. support.
Since launching its invasion in 2022, Russia has continued to expand its territorial control in Ukraine, now holding an area comparable in size to the U.S. state of Virginia. The war has seen no significant breakthroughs in diplomatic negotiations, with Ukraine and its Western allies condemning the invasion as an illegal land grab. With the prospect of direct talks between Trump and Putin looming, the international community remains watchful for any concrete developments that could bring the war to an end.
