Former US President Donald Trump stated that he had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Ukraine conflict, according to the New York Post. The Kremlin has not yet commented on the claim.
Speaking aboard Air Force One during an interview published a day later, Trump reiterated his pledge to swiftly end the conflict. However, the New York Post did not provide any direct quotes from the alleged conversation.
When asked how often he had spoken to Putin, Trump remarked, “I’d better not say.” He expressed belief that Putin wanted an end to the fighting, stating, “He wants to see people stop dying. All those dead people. Young, young, beautiful people. They’re like your kids, two million of them – and for no reason.” The precise origin of Trump’s casualty figure and the time frame he referenced remain unclear.
During the interview, Trump, joined by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, reportedly urged further diplomatic meetings, emphasizing, “Let’s get these meetings going. They want to meet. Every day people are dying.”
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in meeting with Putin to negotiate a resolution. The Kremlin confirmed through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov that contacts between US and Russian departments had “intensified” but offered no specifics.
Asserting his strong rapport with Putin, Trump claimed the Ukraine conflict would not have occurred if he had remained in office. He blamed President Joe Biden for the escalation of hostilities.
While Trump’s peace plan has not been publicly outlined, reports suggest it involves freezing the conflict along current battle lines, creating a demilitarized zone patrolled by European forces, and suspending Ukraine’s NATO membership.
Russia, however, opposes freezing the conflict and insists any settlement must acknowledge the current territorial realities and ensure Ukraine’s permanent neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
