US President Trump says he has spoken to Putin about ending Ukraine war

 The White House has not commented on the report.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied the conversation. “Many different communications are emerging,” he told TASS news agency. “These communications are conducted through different channels. I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it.”

Potential Trump-Putin meeting?

Trump has previously stated he would meet Putin to negotiate peace, though no date or venue has been announced. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been considered possible locations for such talks, news agency Reuters reported earlier this month.

Putin has outlined his conditions for ending the war, demanding that Ukraine renounce its NATO ambitions and withdraw from four regions claimed by Russia. Although Putin has signaled willingness to negotiate a peace deal, he remains firm on territorial control and Ukraine’s NATO exclusion.

The Kremlin has also urged caution over speculation regarding potential peace talks with Trump. Russian lawmaker Leonid Slutsky told RIA news agency that discussions were at “an advanced stage” and could take place as early as February or March.

Trump’s ties with Putin and Zelenskyy

Trump told the New York Post that he has “always had a good relationship with Putin”, and claimed to have a concrete plan to end the war.

On Friday, he also indicated plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week. Zelenskyy told Reuters he wants Ukraine to supply the US with rare earth minerals in exchange for financial support.

On ending the war, Trump said, “I hope it’s fast”. “Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing,” he added.

(With inputs from Reuters)