Related videos:
The president of Russia, Vladímir Putin, surprised many with an invitation to his American counterpart, Donald Trump, to meet in Moscow.
"The Russian president invited the president of the United States to visit Moscow and expressed his willingness to receive U.S. officials in Russia in areas of mutual interest, including, of course, the issue of the settlement in Ukraine," reported Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Both leaders spoke on the phone this Wednesday for about an hour and a half regarding the war in Ukraine and agreed to meet in the future.
"Putin and Trump also agreed to continue personal contacts, including the organization of a face-to-face meeting," Peskov stated.
In a message on his platform Truth Social, Trump announced that he has reached an agreement with Putin to begin "immediate negotiations" aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
According to his explanation, both expressed their willingness to "stop the millions of deaths occurring in the war between Russia and Ukraine" and decided that their diplomatic teams would begin negotiations immediately.
Trump assured that he will begin the process by calling the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, to inform him about what he discussed with Putin during what he described as a "long and very productive phone call."
The Republican leader appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio; CIA Director John Ratcliffe; National Security Advisor Michael Waltz; and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to carry out the negotiations. Trump is confident that this team will achieve "a successful outcome."
In his message, he emphasized that millions of people have died in a war that would not have happened if he had been president, but he believes it is now time to prevent further loss of human life.
The last time Putin spoke with a sitting U.S. president was in February 2022, when he spoke with Joe Biden shortly before ordering the invasion of Ukraine.
On this occasion, they also discussed the strengths of their respective nations and the "great benefit" that, according to Trump, they could gain in the future by working together.
They also discussed the Middle East, bilateral relations, and a prisoner exchange between Washington and Moscow. Following the recent release of American citizen Marc Fogel, Washington will release a Russian citizen in the coming days, whose name will be disclosed once he is in his country.
Frequently asked questions about the meeting between Putin and Trump in Moscow
Why has Putin invited Trump to Moscow?
Putin has invited Trump to Moscow to discuss mutual interests, including the situation in Ukraine, bilateral relations, and a potential prisoner exchange between the two countries. This invitation comes in a context of seeking strategic stability and exploring common grounds with the U.S. administration.
What topics will Putin and Trump discuss in their meeting?
During their meeting, Putin and Trump plan to discuss the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, bilateral relations between Russia and the United States, and a possible prisoner exchange. Both leaders are looking to find solutions to these issues and advance geopolitical stability.
How does this meeting affect the war in Ukraine?
The meeting between Putin and Trump could be a step towards negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Both leaders have expressed their willingness to collaborate to halt the conflict and have indicated that their diplomatic teams will begin negotiations immediately.
What background exists between Trump and Putin for this meeting?
Trump and Putin have a history of previous meetings, with notable gatherings such as the Helsinki summit in 2018. Despite past controversies, both leaders have shown political affinities and are now seeking to mediate in the Ukraine conflict.
Filed under:
