White House Reports Positive Trump-Putin Discussion
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Synopsis
In a significant phone call lasting over an hour, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are engaged in discussions regarding a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the White House stating that the call is progressing well.
Key Takeaways
- Trump and Putin's call exceeds an hour.
- Discussion revolves around a 30-day ceasefire.
- Kyiv has accepted the ceasefire proposal.
- Putin supports the ceasefire but has conditions.
- Trump asserts the conflict wouldn't have occurred during his presidency.
Washington, March 18 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin have been engaged in a phone conversation for over an hour, with the White House confirming that the call is progressing positively.
A summary of the call will be released later.
The leaders are anticipated to discuss the US initiative for a 30-day ceasefire regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Kyiv has already expressed its approval of the proposal.
Putin has tentatively endorsed it, but has stipulated certain conditions: primarily, Ukraine must not utilize the ceasefire to mobilize, train troops, or acquire military assistance.
"Happening Now -- President Trump is currently in the Oval Office conversing with President Vladimir Putin of Russia since 10 a.m. EDT," Dan Scavino, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Trump, noted on X.
"The call is going well, and remains ongoing."
He provided an update 40 minutes later: "Update: Call still in progress..."
President Trump initially revealed his intention to make the call late Sunday while returning to Washington D.C. from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
This conversation follows discussions between Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy for West Asia, and President Putin in Moscow the previous week.
Witkoff stated that their meeting lasted three to four hours.
This meeting occurred following a gathering between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Prior to the Tuesday call, H.R. McMaster, former NSA under the Trump administration, informed Fox News that Putin's strategy is "to persuade Trump and the US to accept a deal that is unacceptable to the Ukrainians, aiming to turn the US against not just Ukraine, but Europe as well."
This call signifies an important move in President Trump's attempts to conclude the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which he asserts would not have happened if he had been in office at the time.
