U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that he recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, according to the New York Post.
During an interview aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump declined to disclose how many times he had spoken with Putin but emphasized the Russian leader's desire to "see people stop dying." The Kremlin and the White House have yet to comment on the conversation.
In late January, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin was open to a phone call with Trump and awaiting Washington’s response. Meanwhile, Trump mentioned he plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy next week to discuss the ongoing conflict.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nears its third anniversary on February 24, with thousands of casualties—predominantly Ukrainian. Trump told the New York Post that he has a "good relationship with Putin" and a concrete plan to end the war, though he did not share details.
“I hope it’s fast,” he added. “Every day, people are dying. This war is terrible for Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing.”
Trump’s statements come amid speculation about his diplomatic influence and potential strategy to broker peace. While the details of his plan remain unclear, his remarks highlight ongoing international efforts to resolve the conflict.