U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a desire for peace in separate phone calls with him. Trump has now ordered top U.S. officials to begin talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump’s diplomatic push comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a major shift in U.S. policy, saying Kyiv would have to abandon its goal of joining NATO and reclaiming all occupied territory.
Following an hour-long call with Putin, Trump said the Russian leader was open to a ceasefire "in the not-too-distant future."
“He wants it to end. He doesn’t want to end it and then go back to fighting six months later,” Trump told reporters.
"I think we're on the way to getting peace. I think President Putin wants peace, President Zelensky wants peace, and I want peace," he added.
Trump has appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to lead U.S. negotiations on ending the war.
After his conversation with Putin, Trump spoke with Zelensky for an hour. The Ukrainian president later described the call as “meaningful”, saying they discussed Ukraine’s defense capabilities, including drones and advanced technologies.
Trump said he and Putin expect to meet soon, most likely in Saudi Arabia, though Putin has also invited Trump to visit Moscow.
Defense Secretary Hegseth earlier stated that restoring Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is unrealistic and that NATO membership for Kyiv is not part of a peace settlement.
"Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering," Hegseth told NATO allies in Brussels.
Ukraine has long maintained that any peace deal must include:
✔ Russia’s full withdrawal from occupied territory
✔ Binding NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees
However, Moscow insists on Ukraine ceding territory and remaining permanently neutral.
A joint statement from Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, the U.K., and the European Union stressed that Ukraine’s future must not be decided without its involvement. They also pledged to increase military and economic support to strengthen Kyiv’s position.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kyiv on Wednesday—the first Trump cabinet official to do so—and floated the idea of a U.S.-Ukraine minerals investment deal as a post-war economic shield.
Trump’s peace push follows a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap completed on Tuesday, in which:
✔ Russia freed American teacher Marc Fogel, who had been serving a 14-year sentence
✔ The U.S. released a Russian cybercriminal, as part of a negotiated exchange
The Kremlin called the swap a step toward rebuilding trust between Washington and Moscow.
Trump also confirmed that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio will meet Ukrainian officials on Friday in Munich at the annual security conference, signaling further diplomatic moves.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised recent steps toward normalizing relations between Russia and the United States, describing the development as a positive move for global stability
Greenland's incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen pledged on Monday to strengthen ties with Denmark while pursuing the Arctic island's ultimate goal of independence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the United States has imposed additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in policies that limit foreign access to Tibetan areas.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the French court’s decision to bar far-right leader Marine Le Pen from the 2027 presidential election as a “very big deal,” comparing her situation to his own legal troubles.
Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of making "reckless and belligerent" remarks that violate international law and the U.N. Charter.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised recent steps toward normalizing relations between Russia and the United States, describing the development as a positive move for global stability
Greenland's incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen pledged on Monday to strengthen ties with Denmark while pursuing the Arctic island's ultimate goal of independence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the United States has imposed additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in policies that limit foreign access to Tibetan areas.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the French court’s decision to bar far-right leader Marine Le Pen from the 2027 presidential election as a “very big deal,” comparing her situation to his own legal troubles.
Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of making "reckless and belligerent" remarks that violate international law and the U.N. Charter.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing 2056 people and leaving 3,900 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The Kremlin announced on Monday that it is working with the United States on potential peace efforts for Ukraine, despite President Donald Trump's recent outburst expressing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
China’s military announced on Tuesday that it has begun joint army, navy, and rocket force exercises around Taiwan, aimed at deterring what it described as Taiwanese independence efforts.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised recent steps toward normalizing relations between Russia and the United States, describing the development as a positive move for global stability
Greenland's incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen pledged on Monday to strengthen ties with Denmark while pursuing the Arctic island's ultimate goal of independence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the United States has imposed additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in policies that limit foreign access to Tibetan areas.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised recent steps toward normalizing relations between Russia and the United States, describing the development as a positive move for global stability
Greenland's incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen pledged on Monday to strengthen ties with Denmark while pursuing the Arctic island's ultimate goal of independence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the United States has imposed additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials involved in policies that limit foreign access to Tibetan areas.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the French court’s decision to bar far-right leader Marine Le Pen from the 2027 presidential election as a “very big deal,” comparing her situation to his own legal troubles.
Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of making "reckless and belligerent" remarks that violate international law and the U.N. Charter.
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