When asked how many times he had spoken with Putin, Trump responded,
“I’d rather not say.” However, he emphasized that he had always maintained a
good relationship with the Russian leader. Trump added that Putin has called
for an end to the killing of people in Ukraine. The U.S. president expressed
hope that the war would end as soon as possible, describing the situation as
increasingly dire. “I hope it’s fast,” Trump said. “Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to
end this damn thing.”
The White House and the Kremlin have not commented on the phone
conversation, leaving many questions unanswered. It is also unclear whether the
call took place before or after Donald Trump’s inauguration. Dmitry Peskov,
Putin’s spokesman, stated on Friday that the Kremlin would inform the public
about the organization of such a call.
Earlier, Trump had expressed his desire
to meet Putin in person to help end the Ukraine conflict. He had previously
stated that, if elected, he would propose a plan to end the Russia-Ukraine
crisis on his first day in office. This statement aligns with his long-standing
stance on resolving the issue.
According to Bloomberg, sources have reported that U.S.
allies are expecting Trump to present his plan to resolve the Ukraine conflict
at the Munich Security Conference, which will be held from February 26 to 28.
Trump’s special envoy on Ukraine and Russia, Kurt Volker, is expected to share
the plan with Washington’s allies during the conference.
Trump’s ongoing efforts to engage with Putin on the issue of Ukraine
reflect his commitment to resolving the conflict. The lack of clarity about the
details of their conversations and the timeline of events adds to the
uncertainty surrounding his diplomatic strategy.
As the Munich Security Conference
approaches, the world will be watching closely to see what kind of plan Trump
proposes and whether it has any impact on the situation in Ukraine. Whether his
approach can lead to meaningful negotiations remains to be seen, but the stakes
for peace are high.