Trump claims Putin and Zelenskiy want peace, orders U.S. officials to start talks on ending Ukraine war

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/KYIV. Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have expressed their willingness to negotiate peace in separate phone calls with him on Wednesday. Following these discussions, Trump directed top U.S. officials to initiate negotiations to end the Ukraine war.

The calls took place amid a significant shift in Washington’s stance on the conflict, with Trump’s defense secretary signaling that Ukraine may have to abandon its long-held aspirations of NATO membership and reclaim all of its Russian-occupied territories.

After speaking with Putin for over an hour, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the Russian leader was open to a resolution. “He wants it to end. He doesn’t want to end it and then go back to fighting six months later,” Trump stated.

“I think we’re on the way to getting peace. I think President Putin wants peace, President Zelenskiy wants peace, and I want peace. I just want to see people stop getting killed,” he added.

Trump-Putin Meeting in the Works

The Kremlin confirmed that Trump and Putin had agreed to meet, with Putin extending an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow. Trump said their first meeting would “probably” take place soon in Saudi Arabia.

Trump also announced on his social media platform that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff would spearhead negotiations to end the war.

Zelenskiy Discusses Peace and Military Capabilities

Following Trump’s conversation with Putin, he spoke with Zelenskiy, with the Ukrainian leader’s office confirming that their call lasted about an hour.

“I had a meaningful conversation with @POTUS. We… talked about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together …and Ukraine’s technological capabilities… including drones and other advanced industries,” Zelenskiy wrote on X.

No formal Ukraine peace talks have taken place since the early months of the war, which is now approaching its third anniversary. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, maintained a policy of strong military and financial aid to Kyiv while refusing direct engagement with Putin after the invasion began.

Currently, Russia occupies around 20% of Ukraine’s territory and has demanded additional territorial concessions, along with a guarantee that Ukraine will remain permanently neutral. Ukraine, on the other hand, insists on Russia’s full withdrawal and seeks either NATO membership or equivalent security assurances to prevent future invasions.

European Powers Demand a Seat at the Table

Britain, France, and Germany emphasized on Wednesday that they must be involved in any future peace talks concerning Ukraine. They insisted that only a fair agreement with robust security guarantees could ensure lasting stability. European leaders also pledged to enhance their support for Ukraine to strengthen its bargaining position.

U.S. Defense Chief: NATO Membership ‘Unrealistic’ for Ukraine

Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made one of the Trump administration’s clearest statements on its approach to the conflict, declaring that Kyiv could not realistically expect to reclaim all its lost territory or join NATO.

“We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,” Hegseth told NATO officials in Brussels. “Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.”

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, a move widely condemned by Ukraine and its Western allies.

Hegseth suggested that any lasting peace agreement must include strong security guarantees to prevent a future war, but he clarified that U.S. troops would not be stationed in Ukraine as part of such an agreement.

Zelenskiy Proposes U.S.-Ukraine Investment Deal

With Trump shaping Washington’s Ukraine policy, Zelenskiy has sought to keep U.S. support by proposing an economic deal under which the U.S. would invest in Ukraine’s mineral resources.

Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who visited Kyiv on Wednesday—the first visit by a Trump administration cabinet member—expressed interest in the proposal. He suggested that such an investment deal could serve as a “security shield” for Ukraine in the post-war period.

Meanwhile, Trump confirmed that Rubio and Vice President JD Vance will discuss the Ukraine war at an upcoming meeting in Munich, coinciding with an annual security conference attended by Ukrainian officials.

U.S.-Russia Prisoner Swap Sparks Optimism

The new diplomatic efforts follow a high-profile U.S.-Russia prisoner swap on Tuesday, which the Kremlin described as a step toward rebuilding trust between the two nations.

Russia released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been serving a 14-year sentence, in exchange for a Russian cybercrime boss imprisoned in the U.S. A U.S. official involved in the negotiations noted that the swap was a sign of potential progress in broader diplomatic talks between Washington and Moscow.

As Trump moves forward with his push for peace, all eyes remain on how his proposed negotiations will unfold and whether a breakthrough in the long-running war can be achieved.