Trump says Russia agrees to 'immediately' begin negotiations to end war in Ukraine

President Donald Trump said he had a "lengthy" call with Vladimir Putin on 
Wednesday, which included the Russian leader agreeing to "immediately" 
begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine.

"We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s 
Nations," Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday. "We have also agreed 
to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will 
begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the 
conversation, something which I will be doing right now. I have asked 
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, 
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy 
Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be 
successful." 

Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022, when Russia first 
invaded its neighboring nation. Trump repeatedly had said while on the 
campaign trail that if he had been president in 2022 the war would not 
have broken out — vowing to end it if re-elected. 

Trump added in his Truth Social post that the pair discussed the U.S.-
Russia relationship going back decades, including Russia's assistance in 
ending World War II. 

RUSSIA SAYS US RELATIONS 'ON THE BRINK OF A BREAKUP,' WON'T CONFIRM TRUMP-
PUTIN TALK

"We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that 
we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that 
Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!" 
Trump added in his Truth Social post of his call with Putin. 

"We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the 
great benefit that we will someday have in working together. But first, as 
we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the 
War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign 
motto of, 'COMMON SENSE.'"

The Kremlin posted a Russian language readout of the phone call, which was 
translated into English, that reported Putin invited Trump to Moscow, and 
that the pair discussed Ukraine and reaching a peaceful solution during 
their call. 

Trump said in a follow-up Truth Social post on Wednesday that he also 
spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"The conversation went very well," Trump wrote. "He, like President Putin, 
wants to make PEACE. We discussed a variety of topics having to do with 
the War, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, 
where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead 
the Delegation. I am hopeful that the results of that meeting will be 
positive. It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been 
massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the 
people of Russia and Ukraine!"

Trump's announcement follows the return of Marc Fogel to the U.S. on 
Wednesday evening after the American had been imprisoned after being found 
guilty of possessing marijuana while at a Russian airport in 2021. 

Trump's national security advisor, Michael Waltz, had said the U.S. and 
Russia "negotiated an exchange" to ensure Fogel's release, although he did 
not disclose what the U.S. was giving up.

Trump thanked Putin in his Truth Social post on Wednesday for Fogel's 
release, as well as the phone call to discuss negotiations. 

"Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I 
were President, but it did happen, so it must end," he wrote. "No more 
lives should be lost! I want to thank President Putin for his time and 
effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc 
Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White 
House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, 
hopefully soon!" 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-russia-agrees-immediately-
begin-negotiations-end-war-ukraine