Trump Teases Secret Talks with Putin on Ending Ukraine War

U.S. President Donald Trump stated Sunday that the United States is making progress in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war but declined to share details of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump hinted at recent discussions with Putin, marking the first publicly acknowledged communication between a U.S. president and the Russian leader since early 2022.

“I’ve had it,” Trump said when asked about speaking with Putin. “We have to get that war ended.” He emphasized that the U.S. is in contact with both Russia and Ukraine, though he did not disclose specifics.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied the reports, stating, “I personally may not know something.” Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz acknowledged ongoing sensitive discussions but declined to elaborate.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to negotiate peace but has yet to outline a concrete plan. He suggested he would meet with Putin at an appropriate time, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE emerging as potential venues for such talks. Reports indicate that a high-level U.S. delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is set to visit Europe to discuss the conflict.

Putin recently proposed terms for ending the war, demanding Ukraine renounce NATO aspirations and withdraw from four Russian-occupied regions. However, Kyiv and its Western allies reject these conditions, viewing the invasion as an illegal land grab.

Reports suggest Trump and Putin have spoken multiple times since 2021, but the Kremlin has denied these claims. Trump is also expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon to discuss Ukraine’s rare earth resources in exchange for U.S. support.