Russia-Ukraine war: President Trump reveals timeline ahead of talks with Putin in Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the White House after his inauguration.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia might take place soon.
“It could be very soon. It’ll be soon,” Trump told reporters, hinting at imminent diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trump emphasized that Putin is open to ending the war, stating, “I think he wants to stop fighting. I see that. We spoke long and hard.” He also noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shares this desire for peace, adding, “We’re moving along. We’re trying to get a peace with Russia-Ukraine, and we’re working very hard on it. It’s a war that should have never started.”
As part of these diplomatic engagements, Trump held separate phone calls with both Putin and Zelenskyy on February 12, reinforcing his commitment to a peaceful resolution.
The Russia-Ukraine war has resulted in over 43,000 Ukrainian military deaths since Russia’s full-scale invasion. According to OHCHR, an estimated 14,200 to 14,400 people—including both civilians and military personnel—were killed between April 2014 and December 2021. At least 3,400 of these were civilians.
Western and Ukrainian intelligence agencies estimate Russia’s total casualties—including those killed, wounded, or missing—to be between 600,000 and 700,000 as of October. However, some experts suggest these figures might be inflated.
