United States President, Donald Trump, revealed that he recently spoke with Russian President, Vladimir Putin by phone regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to the New York Post.
This marks the first known direct conversation between a U.S. president and Putin since early 2022.
Trump, who has pledged to end the war but has yet to publicly detail his approach, described the conflict as a “bloodbath” and said his team had “some very good talks” on the matter.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump declined to disclose how often he had spoken with Putin, saying, “better not say.” He noted, “He (Putin) wants to see people stop dying.” The White House has not commented on the report.
Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, speaking to TASS news agency, acknowledged that multiple channels of communication exist but declined to confirm or deny the New York Post report.
“I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it,” Peskov said.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was ousted during the Maidan Revolution.
Russia subsequently annexed Crimea, leading to clashes between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces.
In 2022, Putin launched what he called a “special military operation,” claiming it was necessary to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine and counter potential Ukrainian NATO membership. The West, led by the U.S., condemned the move as a blatant land grab and vowed to help Ukraine defeat Russian forces.
Moscow currently controls a large portion of Ukrainian territory, roughly the size of Virginia and is advancing at its fastest pace since the early stages of the 2022 invasion.
Trump, known for his 1987 bestseller Trump: The Art of the Deal, has repeatedly stated his intention to end the war and meet with Putin.
While no date or location has been confirmed, Reuters previously reported that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are being considered as potential venues for a peace summit.
Earlier in February, Putin outlined his terms for an immediate ceasefire: Ukraine must abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw its forces from four regions largely controlled by Russia.
While Reuters reported in November that Putin was open to a peace deal with Trump, he ruled out major territorial concessions and insisted Kyiv drop its NATO membership plans.
The Kremlin has remained cautious about speculating on contacts with Trump’s team regarding a potential peace agreement.
Head of Russia’s parliamentary international affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky, told state news agency RIA that preparations for a meeting were at “an advanced stage,” with a summit possible in February or March.
Putin last spoke with former U.S. President Joe Biden in February 2022, shortly before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the Kremlin, that conversation lasted about an hour. In his 2024 book War, Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward claimed Trump and Putin had up to seven private conversations after Trump left office in 2021. When asked about it by Bloomberg, Trump responded, “If I did, it’s a smart thing.” The Kremlin, however, dismissed Woodward’s claims.
Trump also hinted at an upcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, where they would discuss ways to end the war.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin,” Trump told the New York Post, insisting he has a concrete plan for peace, though he refrained from offering details.
“I hope it’s fast,” he added. “Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing.”
