Trump claims continued contact with Putin and Zelenskyy on ending war in Ukraine
Donald Trump (photo: flickr.com)
The US President said he continues to hold regular talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about ending the war, according to a phone interview he gave to Fox News.
During the interview, Trump was asked whether he had recently spoken with Putin and at what stage the negotiations are.
In response, the US leader said Washington is trying to achieve results, but hostilities are ongoing. He described the level of hatred between Putin and Zelenskyy as "madness."
"The hatred between President Putin and President Zelenskyy is ridiculous. It's crazy. Hatred is a bad thing when you're trying to settle something. But it will happen," Trump said.
When asked to clarify when he last spoke with Putin, the US president said he communicates regularly with leaders on both sides of the war.
"I do not want to reveal that. But I do have conversations with him (Putin – ed.), and I do have conversations with President Zelenskyy… We are working on the Russia and Ukraine situation. And hopefully, we will get it," the head of the White House said.
Trump also once again stressed that he has ended eight wars, adding that the war in Ukraine seemed like it would be the easiest one for him to resolve.
Prospects to end war in Ukraine
At the beginning of 2026, Ukraine, the United States, and Russia were actively holding trilateral meetings, which were expected to lead to an end to the war.
The sides coordinated on many issues, although disagreements remained over Donbas. However, after the start of the US-Israeli military campaign in Iran, the negotiation track on Ukraine effectively stalled.
Recently, The New York Times wrote that neither Ukraine nor Russia has a clear plan for either peace or victory. This comes as Trump and his team have focused on Iran. Without an active United States' role and pressure on Russia, reaching an agreement appears unlikely.
At the same time, it is worth noting that a few weeks ago, Ukrainian Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov said that peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow could move toward an agreement, and resolving the war in Ukraine might not take much time.
