In a significant development regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a "lengthy and highly productive" phone call where both leaders agreed to begin negotiations aimed at ending the war "immediately." The call, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, marks the first known conversation between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House for a second term.

During the call, Trump outlined various topics of discussion, including Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, and artificial intelligence. He emphasized a mutual desire to "stop the millions of deaths taking place" in the ongoing conflict and proposed that their respective teams initiate talks without delay. "We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other's Nations," said Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social. The announcement comes just days before a scheduled meeting between Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference.

The Kremlin echoed Trump's sentiments, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that both leaders recognized "the time has come to work together." Following this call, Trump indicated that he would reach out to Zelenskyy to discuss the specifics of the conversation with Putin, a gesture showing consideration for Ukraine’s position.

Zelenskyy’s response to Trump was positive as he acknowledged a meaningful discussion about prospects for a lasting peace, emphasizing Ukraine's unique role in ensuring security. The Ukrainian president has expressed concerns that any peace deal not guaranteed by the US would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future aggression from Russia. He reiterated, “Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees,” highlighting the critical role of US support in the peace process.

Earlier this week, Pentagon officials conveyed the view that returning Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders was unrealistic, undermining some of Zelenskyy's aspirations for negotiations. This has raised alarms among European leaders, as they stress the importance of involving Kyiv and its European allies in discussions surrounding peace in the region.

In context, Trump’s call with Putin signals a potential shift in how the US may handle negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict. The willingness of both leaders to explore diplomatic avenues has implications for the broader geopolitical landscape, particularly in light of ongoing Russian military actions in Ukraine.

In conjunction, various discussions about trade agreements involving Ukraine's mineral resources emerge as Trump has made statements suggesting that future US military aid could be contingent upon Ukraine's openness to such deals. "We are going to have all this money in there, and I say I want it back," Trump commented, emphasizing a transactional approach to US aid related to Ukraine’s critical resources.

This series of diplomatic exchanges unfolds amid ongoing military confrontations in Ukraine, where recent missile strikes by Russia on Kyiv have raised questions about the actual commitment to peace from the Kremlin. With ongoing tensions and the fear of escalated conflicts, the global community is closely monitoring the next steps in the developing situation.

For further details, visit BBC or read the full story at Le Monde.