Trump Signals Shift in US Policy, Discusses Ukraine Peace Talks with Putin

In a significant policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Speaking on Wednesday, Trump revealed that he had a phone conversation with Putin lasting over an hour. “I think we’re on the way to getting peace,” he stated, marking a departure from the United States' stance on Kyiv over the past three years.

The development suggests a potential realignment in U.S. foreign policy toward the ongoing conflict, though further details on the negotiations remain unclear.

Trump Discusses Ukraine Peace Talks with Putin and Zelenskyy, Hints at Future Meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated a potential breakthrough in efforts to end the war in Ukraine after separate phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, he remained vague on whether Ukraine would have an equal role in U.S.-led negotiations with Russia.

“I think President Putin wants peace, and President Zelenskyy wants peace, and I want peace,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

Recounting his discussion with Putin, Trump noted: “People didn’t really know what President Putin’s thoughts were. But I think I can say with great confidence, he wants to see it ended also, so that’s good – and we’re going to work toward getting it ended as fast as possible.”

The U.S. president also suggested that he would “probably” meet with Putin in person in the near future, hinting that Saudi Arabia could be the possible venue for the talks.

Trump-Putin Call Raises Concerns Over Ukraine's Role in Peace Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump’s conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised speculation that Washington and Moscow may seek to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine without Kyiv’s direct involvement. Such a move would mark a sharp departure from the previous Biden administration, which had insisted that Ukraine’s leadership be a full participant in any peace deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his nightly address, acknowledged his discussion with Trump, stating that he appreciated the U.S. president’s “genuine interest in our shared opportunities and how we can bring about a real peace together.”

Zelenskyy later reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance in a social media post, writing, “We believe that America’s strength, together with Ukraine and all of our partners, is enough to push Russia to peace.”

Trump-Putin Talks Signal Shift in Ukraine Policy as NATO Membership Deemed ‘Unrealistic’

The United States appears to be recalibrating its approach to the war in Ukraine, with recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration indicating a shift away from Kyiv’s previous expectations of full support.

At a NATO meeting in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership as “unrealistic.” He also cautioned against pursuing the goal of restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders, calling it an “illusionary” objective that would only prolong the conflict.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a broad range of topics, with Ukraine as the primary focus. He noted that Putin supported Trump’s call for a swift resolution to the war and agreed that a long-term settlement could be achieved through negotiations. Peskov also stated that Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow and expressed willingness to host U.S. officials for talks on Ukraine and other issues.

Trump later reinforced the U.S. stance on Ukraine’s NATO membership, saying, “I don’t think it’s practical to have it, personally.” This marks a stark contrast to the Biden administration, which had previously declared Kyiv’s accession to NATO as “inevitable” following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

In a parallel development, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kyiv on Wednesday—the first trip by a member of Trump’s cabinet—amid reports that Ukraine is seeking a deal with Washington. The proposed agreement would see continued U.S. military aid in exchange for American access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, including rare earth elements and oil and gas.

Bessent’s visit suggests that while the Trump administration may be shifting its broader approach to Ukraine, economic and strategic interests remain a key component of U.S. involvement in the region.

References