Wednesday, 12th February, 2025
Trump and Putin Hold Landmark 90-Minute Call in Bid to End Ukraine War
In a significant development, President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly 90 minutes—their first publicized conversation since Trump returned to the White House. The call marks a break in a long silence between Washington and Moscow, and it comes as Trump embarks on an effort to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
During the call, Trump offered warm remarks toward Putin, emphasizing a spirit of cooperation. The two leaders agreed to visit each other’s countries and work closely together. This conversation unfolded on the same day that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO allies that Ukraine’s goal of reclaiming its entire internationally recognized territory might be “unrealistic.” Hegseth outlined a vision for a peace deal that includes strong security guarantees for Kyiv, while placing much of the responsibility for defending Ukraine on Europe.
The call has stirred controversy, particularly in Kyiv, since former President Joe Biden had made it clear that any discussions with Russian officials would be coordinated with Ukrainian leaders. However, Trump said he would later contact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to share details of the conversation.
Putin has long maintained that Ukraine falls within Russia’s sphere of influence—a stance that clashes with Ukraine’s aspirations to modernize and integrate with Europe. In his post-call message on Truth Social, Trump described the conversation as “lengthy and highly productive,” covering a range of topics from Ukraine and the Middle East to energy, artificial intelligence, and the power of the dollar. Trump also echoed his campaign’s “COMMON SENSE” approach, emphasizing the need to stop the ongoing loss of life in the Ukraine conflict.
The call occurred one day after Russia released U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, who had been imprisoned for over three years. Trump revealed that he had tasked his top officials—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe—with driving the discussions. Notably, retired General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, was not among those named, though he and Vice President JD Vance are scheduled to meet European policymakers soon.
Russian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Putin stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of the conflict and agreed with Trump that long-term peace could be achieved through negotiations. Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed the call via his Telegram account, expressing gratitude and reiterating Ukraine’s strong desire for peace. Zelensky emphasized that any successful peace plan must include Ukraine as an equal partner.
Trump has repeatedly called on Putin to end the war, though details on how to achieve a breakthrough remain vague. His previous statements have sometimes raised concerns that any deal might favor Russia, potentially allowing it to regroup and rearm. During his 2024 campaign, Trump even claimed he could end the Ukraine war in less than 24 hours—a claim that has fueled further debate.
This call represents a major diplomatic shift. It ends nearly three years of relative isolation for Putin from Western leaders—a stark change from the period of intense engagement under the Biden administration before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While the conversation has opened the door to potential face-to-face meetings, significant challenges remain. Any future deal will have to balance complex issues, including Ukraine’s sovereignty, the role of NATO, and broader European security concerns.
As discussions continue, global citizens are watching closely. Many hope that these developments will pave the way for a lasting peace that respects Ukraine’s independence while addressing the deep-rooted security concerns of all parties involved.