By Miracle Ogunde
US President Donald Trump has disclosed that negotiations are underway to bring an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had extended invitations to visit each other’s nations.
He further revealed that he intended to call Zelensky “right now” to inform him about the discussions.
Trump described his conversation with Putin on Wednesday as “lengthy and highly productive,” adding that they had agreed to “immediately” initiate negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
In a notable shift in relations between Washington and Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed that the call lasted one and a half hours, with both leaders acknowledging that “the time has come to work together.”
According to an AFP report, Putin informed Trump that a “long-term settlement” of the Ukraine conflict—sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of its pro-Western neighbour—was feasible. The Russian leader also invited the US president to Moscow, the Kremlin stated.
The conversation between Trump and Putin followed a prisoner exchange earlier in the week, in which Russia released US teacher Marc Fogel while the United States freed Russian cryptocurrency figure Alexander Vinnik.
In his Truth Social post, Trump commended the Russian president, noting that Putin had “even used my very strong campaign motto of, ‘Common sense.’”
He stated that both leaders shared a mutual desire to end what he described as the “millions of deaths taking place in the war with Russia/Ukraine,” citing an unverified casualty figure.
“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations,” Trump wrote.
“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelensky of Ukraine to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now.”
Trump further announced that he had appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiations, expressing confidence in their success.
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