U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday, February 12, that he is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace efforts for the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The announcement follows a surprising phone call between the two leaders, marking their first confirmed contact since Trump returned to the White House.
During the “lengthy and highly productive” conversation, Trump and Putin reportedly agreed that “the time has come to work together” toward resolving the Ukraine crisis. The call lasted nearly an hour and a half, with both leaders expressing a desire to “stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine,” according to Trump’s post on his Truth Social platform.
The planned meeting, expected to take place soon, will likely include Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who played a key role in a recent Russia-U.S. prisoner exchange. The Kremlin has also invited Trump to visit Moscow following the Saudi talks.
Trump, who has been advocating for a swift resolution to the nearly three-year-long war, indicated that Ukraine’s aspiration to join NATO—a major point of contention for Russia—was “not practical.” However, he denied claims that Ukraine would be excluded from the peace process, assuring that Kyiv’s interests would be considered. Trump stated that he and Putin have agreed to begin negotiations immediately, with teams from both sides working on a potential deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not part of the initial call with Putin but later spoke with Trump. The U.S. president assured Zelensky that both he and Putin are committed to achieving peace. Zelensky, in turn, reiterated Ukraine’s position that its “independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty” are non-negotiable.
The announcement of the talks has sparked concern in Ukraine and European capitals, where some fear the U.S. might be yielding to Russian demands. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has suggested that Ukraine’s goal of returning to its pre-2014 borders is unrealistic and that NATO membership is “not realistic,” aligning with Moscow’s conditions.
Trump’s call with Putin comes amid signs of improving relations, including a recent prisoner swap. While some applaud Trump’s push for peace, critics, including Ukrainian officials, have raised concerns about Ukraine’s exclusion from the negotiations.
French, German, and Spanish foreign ministers have emphasized that any peace agreement must involve Ukraine and its European partners. As the situation develops, the international community is closely monitoring the talks, particularly in light of Ukraine’s demand for strong security guarantees in any potential deal with Russia.
