President Trump held a "highly productive" phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, marking the beginning of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Trump also spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
For Putin, the call was a major milestone, breaking the Western isolation imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. However, Trump did not mention how Ukraine's interests would be included in the negotiations.
Hours before the call, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated at a NATO meeting in Brussels that it was "unrealistic" for Ukraine to expect a peace deal that would restore its pre-2014 borders. Hegseth added that Trump does not support Ukraine's membership in NATO as part of a realistic peace plan.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine before launching a full-scale invasion in 2022. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine.
8 Comments
Matzomaster
“By not mentioning Ukraine’s interests, this call only shows that the West is willing to ignore the reality on the ground.”
Rotfront
“President Trump’s effort to engage both Putin and Zelensky shows he’s trying to create space for negotiation.”
Karamba
“Every step toward dialogue with Russia, even if imperfect, is a step away from further destruction. I support this move.”
Answer
“Announcing a milestone for Putin while dismissing Ukraine’s security is not a real step toward peace – it’s a betrayal.”
Muchacho
“The call marks the beginning of a process that could eventually lead to a comprehensive peace deal—even if the details need more work.”
Donatello
“It’s hard to trust a negotiation process when the terms are clearly tilted in favor of Putin and against Ukraine’s interests.”
Raphael
“This meeting could end up legitimizing Russian claims over Ukrainian territory – a complete step backwards for international law.”
Leonardo
“Even Secretary Hegseth admits it’s unrealistic to expect a fair peace deal. This shows that the plan is fundamentally flawed.”