U.S. President Donald Trump announced that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have expressed a willingness to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump revealed that he held separate phone conversations with both leaders on Wednesday and has directed top U.S. officials to initiate talks aimed at securing peace.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump stated that Putin was open to a ceasefire and emphasized that any peace agreement should prevent a resurgence of conflict. "He wants it to end. He doesn't want to end it and then go back to fighting six months later," Trump said. The Kremlin later confirmed that Trump and Putin had agreed to meet soon, with a likely first meeting in Saudi Arabia.
Zelenskiy also confirmed his conversation with Trump, describing it as "meaningful." In a post on X, he noted that they discussed opportunities to achieve peace, Ukraine’s technological capabilities, and future cooperation. The Ukrainian president's office reported that their discussion lasted about an hour.
This diplomatic push follows a shift in Washington’s stance on the war. Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Ukraine’s goals of regaining all occupied territories and joining NATO were unrealistic. "Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering," Hegseth said at a NATO meeting in Brussels.
Meanwhile, European leaders, including those from Britain, France, and Germany, stressed that they must be part of any negotiations concerning Ukraine's future. They reiterated that a fair agreement, coupled with security guarantees, would be crucial to achieving lasting peace.
Trump has appointed a team to oversee negotiations, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. Additionally, Vice President JD Vance and Rubio are set to discuss the conflict further at an upcoming security conference in Munich.
In a related development, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kyiv on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a Trump administration official to Ukraine. His discussions centered on a potential U.S.-Ukraine deal involving critical minerals, which could serve as part of Ukraine’s security framework after the war.
Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts also come after a high-profile U.S.-Russia prisoner swap, in which Russia released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel in exchange for a Russian cybercrime boss held in the U.S. The Kremlin suggested that the swap could help build trust between the two nations.
As diplomatic efforts gain momentum, Zelenskiy and Trump have agreed to maintain further contact and plan upcoming meetings to discuss security and economic cooperation.