In a revealing interview published Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the war in Ukraine approaches its third anniversary.
Trump expressed his deep concerns over the ongoing conflict and reiterated his desire to see it end “fast,” as he hopes to curb the daily loss of life.
While the specific timing of these conversations remains unclear, Trump emphasized his “good relationship” with Putin and stressed that he’s been actively seeking ways to negotiate a resolution to the devastating war.
Trump’s remarks come at a time when the situation in Ukraine has become increasingly dire.
With thousands of lives lost and the geopolitical consequences of Russia’s invasion reverberating across the world, the former president’s comments have sparked renewed attention on his approach to foreign diplomacy.
“He wants to see people stop dying,” Trump said of Putin during his interview with The New York Post, referring to their conversations.
The president did not specify how many times he has spoken to the Russian leader or the exact nature of their discussions, though he did suggest that the frequency of their talks has been significant.
When asked about the number of times he had spoken to Putin, Trump responded cryptically, saying, “I better not say.”
As the war in Ukraine nears its third anniversary, Trump has reiterated his promise to end the conflict quickly if re-elected.
During the interview, Trump voiced his concern over the daily death toll, calling the war “so bad” and expressing his desire to end the bloodshed as soon as possible.
“I hope it’s fast. Every day people are dying,” he said. “This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing.”
Earlier this week, Trump made headlines by claiming that peace talks aimed at ending the war had “made a lot of progress,” although the specifics of these discussions have not been publicly disclosed.
While many have expressed skepticism about Trump’s ability to resolve such a complex and volatile international conflict, his continued engagement with Putin suggests that he may see direct diplomacy as a way to resolve the crisis.
In the interview, which took place while Trump was traveling aboard Air Force One to Florida on Friday, the president directed his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, to “get these meetings going.”
Trump emphasized the importance of pushing for peace talks, stressing the toll the war has taken on young soldiers from both sides.
“Young handsome soldiers are being killed. Young men, like my sons. On both sides. All over the battlefield,” Trump said.
On Friday, Trump also told reporters that he would “probably” meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the upcoming week, further fueling speculation about his plans for future diplomacy regarding the war.
“I will probably be meeting with President Zelensky next week, and I will probably be talking to President Putin,” Trump said, signaling a potential shift in his approach to the war, as he seeks to balance his dealings with both the U.S. allies and adversaries.
Meanwhile, Zelensky is expected to lead Ukraine’s delegation at the Munich Security Conference, where key global leaders will gather to discuss the ongoing conflict.
Notably absent from the conference will be Trump, though Vice President JD Vance and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, are both scheduled to attend.
Trump’s remarks about an upcoming meeting with Zelensky suggest he is continuing to monitor the war closely and remains willing to pursue direct talks with key figures involved.
Trump also touched on his broader view of U.S. involvement in the Ukraine conflict, specifically addressing what he called the burden of American financial and military aid.
Earlier this week, Trump proposed a controversial plan to secure access to Ukraine’s vast rare earth mineral resources in exchange for continued U.S. support.
“We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine, where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earths and other things,” Trump explained in the Oval Office.
He expressed frustration with Europe’s relative lack of commitment to providing similar assistance to Ukraine, further underscoring his transactional approach to foreign policy.
