The phone conversation between the Presidents of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, began today shortly after 10.00:XNUMX a.m. Eastern Time on the US coast, as announced, Trump's press secretary announced, and announced that there will be details when it is over.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the conversation was important given the talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations on Friday in Istanbul, the first since March 2022.
Trump is seeking to end the war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and, as the AP reports, after his claim that he would quickly end the conflict when he returns to the White House, this conversation is a serious test of his reputation as a "deal maker."
"He has grown tired and frustrated with both sides of the conflict. He has made it clear to both sides that he wants a peaceful resolution and a ceasefire as soon as possible," White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said today ahead of the talks.
The Republican president is counting on his strength of personality and personal relationship with Putin to be enough to break the deadlock over reaching a ceasefire.
Trump expressed hope that today would be a "productive day" and a ceasefire would be reached, he wrote on social media over the weekend.
He will also speak today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders.
But ahead of the Trump-Putin talks, US Vice President J.D. Vance said that Trump was "more than open" to abandoning attempts to end the war if he felt Putin was not serious about negotiations.
Vance said that Trump made it clear that the US is not going to "work in vain", but wants results.
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