Donald Trump reported that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy conveyed their interest in achieving peace during separate phone conversations with him on Wednesday. Following these discussions, Trump instructed senior U.S. officials to initiate negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

These talks occurred after Trump’s defense secretary indicated that Ukraine might need to abandon its longstanding aspirations of joining NATO and reclaiming all territories lost to Russia, marking a significant change in the U.S. stance on the issue.

After a conversation lasting over an hour with Putin, Trump stated that the Russian leader, who initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is eager for the war to conclude, and they talked about the possibility of establishing a ceasefire in the near future. “He wants it to end. He doesn’t want to end it and then go back to fighting six months later,” Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office. “I believe we are moving towards peace. Both President Putin and President Zelenskiy desire peace, and I share that goal. My hope is to see an end to the loss of life,” he added.

Trump has consistently claimed he could swiftly bring the war in Ukraine to a close, although he has not detailed the methods he would employ to achieve this. The Kremlin previously announced that Putin and Trump had agreed to a meeting, with Putin extending an invitation for Trump to visit Moscow. Trump mentioned that their initial meeting would likely occur soon in Saudi Arabia. In a post on his social media platform, he indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, national security adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would spearhead the negotiations to end the conflict.

Trump and Zelenskiy engaged in a conversation following Trump’s discussion with Putin, with Zelenskiy’s office reporting that their dialogue lasted approximately one hour. Zelenskiy shared on X, “I had a significant conversation with @POTUS. We explored opportunities for peace, discussed our willingness to collaborate, and addressed Ukraine’s technological advancements, including drones and other high-tech industries.”

Since the early stages of the conflict, which is nearing its third anniversary, no peace talks have taken place. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, facilitated billions in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine but did not have direct communication with Putin after the invasion began.

Currently, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine and has insisted that Kyiv relinquish additional territory and adopt a stance of permanent neutrality in any peace agreement. Conversely, Ukraine demands that Russia withdraw from the territories it has seized and insists on receiving NATO membership or equivalent security assurances to deter future aggression from Moscow.

European nations, including the UK, France, and Germany, emphasized on Wednesday their necessity to be involved in any future discussions regarding Ukraine’s fate, highlighting that a fair agreement with security guarantees is essential for lasting peace. They expressed their readiness to bolster support for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen its position.

Unattainable goal

Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth articulated the new administration’s most direct stance on the conflict, asserting that Ukraine could not realistically expect to revert to its previous borders or gain NATO membership. “We share your desire for a sovereign and thriving Ukraine. However, we must acknowledge that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unattainable goal,” Hegseth stated during a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels. “Pursuing this unrealistic aim will only extend the conflict and lead to further suffering.”

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, a move that Ukraine and numerous Western nations regard as the occupation of Ukrainian territory. Hegseth emphasized that any lasting peace must incorporate “robust security guarantees to prevent the resurgence of conflict.” However, he clarified that U.S. troops would not be sent to Ukraine as part of these guarantees.

In an effort to maintain Trump’s interest in supporting Ukraine, Zelenskiy has recently suggested a proposal for U.S. investment in Ukrainian minerals. Scott Bessent, Trump’s former Treasury Secretary, visited Kyiv on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a member of Trump’s cabinet, and indicated that such a mineral investment could act as a “security shield” for Ukraine post-conflict.

Trump also mentioned that Rubio and Vice President JD Vance are scheduled to discuss the war on Friday in Munich, where Ukrainian officials are anticipated to participate in an annual security conference. This new diplomatic initiative follows a U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange that commenced on Tuesday, which the Kremlin suggested could foster trust between the two nations. On that day, Russia released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian prison, in return for a Russian cybercrime leader held in the U.S., according to an official statement.