Trump and Putin talk Ukraine

Donald Trump said earlier today that he had spoken to Vladimir Putin on the phone and agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine “immediately.” The president made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social.

According to Trump, the pair had a “lengthy and highly productive” discussion, touching on AI, the Middle East, the “power of the dollar” and bonded over how valiantly their two nations had fought side by side against the Nazis in World War Two. “But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the war with Russia/Ukraine.” In a move bound to have thrilled Trump, he claimed that “President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of ‘COMMON SENSE.’” Putin invited Trump to Moscow, and the president reciprocated the invitation of a visit.

“We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately,” Trump continued, declaring that his first move would be to inform Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky of this development. Zelensky may of course have already found out via Trump’s social media post.

Around the same time as Trump’s revelation, the Kremlin confirmed that a conversation between the two leaders had taken place — the first time Moscow has acknowledged that a discussion between the two has occurred. Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the call was nearly an hour and a half long and that the two would make efforts to meet face to face.

The news of Trump and Putin’s discussion comes on the eve of the Munich Security Conference, due to be held this coming weekend. There have been rumors for a while that the president’s team, led by Ukraine special envoy Keith Kellogg, would reveal more details of Trump’s ambitions for the country. In his statement this afternoon, Trump confirmed that secretary of state Marco Rubio, CIA director John Ratcliffe, national security advisor Michael Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff would be leading the American delegation in discussions with Putin.

To Ukraine, Trump’s statement today regarding talks with Putin will look like confirmation of their worst nightmare when it comes to how the conflict with Russia ends. Zelensky has long been at pains to reinforce that there can be no discussions over Ukraine’s future without Ukraine present — conversations such as today’s appear to signal that Trump has few qualms about going over the Ukrainian president’s head. European allies of Ukraine — who have long supported Zelensky’s wish to be included at the negotiating table — are also unlikely to be thrilled by the day’s developments.

For Zelensky now, the challenge will be to try and keep hold of Trump’s ear as and when the negotiations begin — and use all the diplomatic skill and flattery he can muster to ensure Trump keeps Ukraine’s interests in mind.