In an effort to end the Russia-Ukraine war, US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly two hours. The war between the two countries began three years ago.
According to a White House official, the call started around 8 PM Bangladesh time on Tuesday and lasted for nearly two hours.
CNN reported that the primary goal of the call was to persuade Putin to agree to a 30-day temporary ceasefire and make certain concessions, including relinquishing control of large Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces.
Earlier this month, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire mediated by the US Following this, Washington proposed a similar deal to Russia. However, Putin has not yet fully agreed to it. Trump, however, expressed confidence that his conversation with Putin might convince him to accept the ceasefire.
After the ceasefire proposal, Putin stated in a press conference last week that Russia was open to a ceasefire, but it must address the core issues underlying the conflict. He also emphasized the need for detailed discussions before making any commitments.
During the call, Trump hinted at the possibility of Russia retaining control over certain Ukrainian territories, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Russia has stated that it will agree to a ceasefire only if its interests are protected. The war, which has been ongoing for three years, has resulted in Russia occupying approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, which Moscow now claims as its own.
Following the call, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted on X, stating, “Talks are ongoing.” The BBC reported that US officials have not disclosed much about the conversation, but Scavino’s post confirmed that the call lasted over 90 minutes. Shortly after, it was reported that the conversation had ended.
LND/NE
