In a recent development, US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he reportedly told Russia to “get moving” on Ukraine peace talks. This call came after Steven Witkoff, US Special Envoy to the Middle East, met with Putin in Moscow. Witkoff’s visit was initially aimed at arranging a prisoner exchange between the US and Russia, which included the release of American citizen Marc Fogel.
During the phone call, Trump and Putin discussed various issues, including the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, artificial intelligence, energy, and the strength of the US dollar. According to Trump, the conversation lasted about an hour and a half and was described as “lengthy and very productive”. Both leaders agreed to work closely to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine and have scheduled a personal meeting in Saudi Arabia.
The proposed peace talks have sparked mixed reactions from European countries, with some expressing concerns that Ukraine’s interests might not be adequately represented. Trump’s approach to the conflict has been seen as a shift in US policy towards Kyiv, with some allies fearing that the US might make significant concessions to Russia at the expense of Europe. Despite these concerns, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that one phone call does not solve a complex war like this, but Trump is committed to finding a solution.
