In a dramatic reversal of U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had talked by telephone and agreed to start negotiating to end the war in Ukraine. The hour-plus telephone call on Wednesday was the first direct contact between the two leaders on the issue in months.
Trump told journalists in the Oval Office that he thought Putin “wants peace” and that the two presidents were now “on the way to getting peace.” He went on to say, “I think President Putin wants peace, President Zelenskyy wants peace, and I want peace,” which indicated a possible diplomatic breakthrough.
The discussion follows U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s remark that Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO were “unrealistic,” which has indicated a possible weakening of Washington’s stance. Trump’s comment on Ukraine’s participation in the peace negotiations was also guarded, as he stated that Ukraine’s participation remained uncertain.
Despite this, Trump was optimistic that both Putin and Zelenskyy wanted a peaceful end. “People didn’t know what President Putin’s thoughts were, but I think I can say with great confidence, that he wants to see it ended also, so that’s good,” Trump said. The American president intimated that a one-on-one meeting with Putin might be imminent, perhaps in Saudi Arabia, although no date was mentioned.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was informed of the call, reacted by thanking Trump for his attempts to bring peace to the area. In a social media message, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his “genuine interest in our common opportunities” to find peace and reiterated Ukraine’s faith in the power of its alliances, especially with the U.S.
Zelenskyy went on to say that the U.S. and its allies could force Russia to make peace. But whether the change in U.S. policy will make a difference to the war immediately is uncertain, as Ukraine’s future involvement in the peace process is still to be determined.
Trump’s change in tone is a departure from the Biden administration’s policy, which demanded that Ukraine be a central participant in any peace talks with Russia. The negotiations that will now ensue could determine the future of the war and remake international diplomacy on the matter.
