In a significant diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict must come to an end, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt emphasized the importance of fostering better US-Russia relations while working towards a lasting peace.
“Yesterday, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed that this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace and also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the US and Russia,” Leavitt stated.
Trump also engaged in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing Ukraine’s concerns and discussing potential steps toward de-escalation. “President Trump also spoke with President Zelenskyy this morning to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their needs and requests,” she added.
Leavitt underscored Trump’s long-standing position that the war has been a costly burden on both Ukraine and Russia. “As President Trump has said repeatedly, the precious lives and money that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people. This terrible conflict would have never started with President Trump in charge. But he is determined to end it once and for all,” she stated.
Despite these diplomatic engagements, Russia and Ukraine exchanged aerial attacks overnight, mere hours after the Kremlin agreed to halt strikes on energy infrastructure. However, Moscow has yet to agree to a broader ceasefire proposal backed by the US, CNN reported.
Following a lengthy call with Trump, Putin announced a temporary suspension of attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. “Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order,” a Kremlin statement noted.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed optimism about the future of US-Russia relations following the conversation between the two leaders. “I can say with a high degree of confidence that Presidents Putin and Trump understand each other well, trust each other, and intend to gradually move towards normalizing Russian-American relations,” Peskov told reporters, as per CNN.
While diplomatic efforts are gaining momentum, the path to a comprehensive peace agreement remains uncertain as tensions persist on the battlefield.
