Trump says he has spoken to Putin about ending the Ukraine war
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Trump spoke with a New York Post reporter on Friday aboard Air Force One, stating that Putin "wants to see people stop dying."
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Donald Trump watches fireworks at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, on January 18, 2025, ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration. (AP)
US President Donald Trump confirmed he recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about finding a resolution to the war in Ukraine, marking the first known direct conversation between the two since early 2022, according to the New York Post.
Trump, who has pledged to end the war but has not disclosed his specific approach, described the conflict as a "bloodbath" last week, adding that his team had engaged in "some very good talks."
In an interview aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump declined to specify how many times he had spoken with Putin, stating, "I better not say," when asked by the New York Post.
"He (Putin) wants to see people stop dying," Trump told the New York Post.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the TASS state news agency that "many different communications are emerging".
"These communications are conducted through different channels," Peskov said when asked by TASS to comment directly on the New York Post report. "I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it."
Late last month, Putin stressed on January 28 that negotiations with Ukraine could take place but ruled out engaging with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he labeled "illegitimate."
Putin's remarks came as US President Donald Trump looks to be pushing for an end to the nearly three-year war. Trump claimed that Zelensky was eager to negotiate a "deal" to bring an end to the hostilities.
"If Zelensky wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part," Putin said. However, he dismissed the Ukrainian leader’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of Zelensky’s presidential term during martial law.
Putin added, "If there is a desire to negotiate and find a compromise, let anyone lead the negotiations there... Naturally, we will strive for what suits us and aligns with our interests."
