Donald Trump stated that he and Vladimir Putin had communicated in his first officially recognized interaction with the Russian leader since 2022, adding “I anticipate having numerous additional discussions. “
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on the same day that he would “neither confirm nor deny” Trump’s remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, indicating that he and Putin had communicated in his first officially recognized interaction with the Russian leader since 2022.
Discussing his communication with the Russian leader, Donald Trump mentioned to reporters, “let’s just say I’ve had it. . . and I anticipate having many more dialogues. We must bring that war to a close. ”
“I despise witnessing all these young individuals being killed. The soldiers are being slain by the hundreds of thousands,” he expressed, yet he refrained from offering any additional information regarding how many times they had communicated, replying, “I’d better not say. ”
The comments made by Trump and representatives from the Kremlin arrive at a critical point for the war in Ukraine, as Kyiv and its European allies anxiously anticipate specifics of Trump’s peace proposal aimed at resolving the conflict that Russia initiated with its large-scale invasion three years prior.
Between winning the election in November and being inaugurated last month, Trump stated he intended to conclude the war in one day upon assuming office.
About Trump’s comments on Sunday, Keir Giles, a senior fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the London think-tank Chatham House, remarked, “it would be tempting to conclude that this was all part of a meticulous plan for not disclosing information too soon in order not to disrupt this process. ”
“Or it might simply be that, as appears to be the case with Donald Trump’s prior promises of swift action to resolve the conflict, there isn’t, in reality, a plan yet,”
Giles mentioned that further clarity on the situation may emerge later this week, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to participate in the prominent Munich Security Conference, which senior U. S. officials are also expected to attend.
Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, informed that U. S. officials would be “discussing the specifics of how to conclude this war, and that will involve bringing both sides to the negotiating table. ”
Ryabkov stated that donald Trump would be “ready to tax, tariff, and sanction” Moscow to pressure President Putin into negotiations. Additionally, Trump would consider reducing support to Ukraine to compel European allies to increase their own contributions to the country’s defense.
These remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed willingness to engage in talks with Russia, but only if he could be assured of continued support from the U.S. and Europe, including security guarantees.
Zelenskyy made these comments to ITV last week, emphasizing the importance of international backing for Ukraine. On Sunday, he also told Reuters that meeting with Trump was crucial before any potential discussions with Putin, warning that any talks without Ukraine’s direct involvement would undermine the country’s interests.
In the meantime, the conflict continued to escalate. A Russian drone attack on Kyiv late Sunday left one woman injured and caused damage to several houses in Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported the attack on Monday, highlighting the ongoing threat to civilians and infrastructure as the war with Russia persists.
These developments underscore the tense geopolitical situation, with Zelenskyy seeking strong international assurances before engaging in any dialogue with Russia, while Russia remains defiant in its stance. The balance of support from the U.S. and Europe will likely play a crucial role in shaping the future of these negotiations and the broader conflict.