Trump discusses Ukraine war with Putin, says Russian president “wants to see people stop dying”

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly held phone discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During an interview aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump was asked how many times he had spoken to Putin. He responded cryptically, saying, “Better not say.” However, he emphasized the interest of the Russian Czar in stopping the bloodshed, stating, “He wants to see people stop dying.”

Neither the Kremlin nor the White House immediately provided comments on the conversation. However, in late January, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin was open to a phone call with Trump, awaiting a signal from Washington.

Meanwhile, Trump also indicated that he would likely meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming week to discuss potential resolutions to the conflict.

The war, triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is set to enter its third year on February 24. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, with Ukrainian civilians and soldiers bearing the brunt of the devastation.

Trump, who has long touted his diplomatic ties with Putin, reiterated his desire for a swift end to the war. “I hope it’s fast,” he said. “Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing.” However, he did not reveal details of his proposed peace plan.