Trump and Putin in talks to end war: Potential summit ahead

In a conversation with the "New York Post" aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump revealed that he had been conducting phone negotiations with Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. Trump did not disclose how many times these talks had occurred, saying only, "I'd better not say."

Trump added that he "always had a good relationship with Putin" and believes that Putin "does care" about the number of people being killed on the battlefield. "He wants to see people stop dying," stated the President of the USA.

Trump expressed hope for a quick end to the war, emphasizing the dramatic consequences of the conflict. "Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this thing," he is quoted by the "New York Post."

Mike Waltz, the U.S. National Security Advisor, joined Trump's talks with Putin and suggested starting meetings: "Let’s get these meetings going. They want to meet. Every day people are dying. Young handsome soldiers are being killed. Young men, like my sons. On both sides. All over the battlefield," said Trump.

However, as Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed in a conversation with CNN, the Kremlin and the White House have not yet started talks about a possible meeting of the leaders. The Russian side noted that it has not yet been determined whether such a meeting is necessary, nor where and how it would take place.

According to Reuters, Leonid Slutsky, head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian State Duma, suggested that a Trump-Putin meeting could take place in February or March, and preparations for the summit are at an "advanced stage."

Both leaders have previously expressed a desire to meet, and Trump would like to address the topic of ending Russia's war with Ukraine, thus fulfilling one of his election promises.