Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine. In an interview following the conversation, Trump emphasized his desire to end the war and Putin’s willingness to negotiate. The war, which has led to numerous casualties, is approaching its third anniversary.

President Trump gave an interview to the American news site New York Post on board the special Air Force One jet. In the interview, Trump mentioned that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone to end the war in Ukraine. When asked how many times the two leaders had spoken, Trump replied, “I’d better not say.”

“PUTIN DOESN’T WANT PEOPLE TO DIE” Trump, who believes that Putin “cares” about the deaths on the battlefield, used the words “he wants to stop people from dying.” He claimed that if he had been president in 2022, the three-year war would have “never happened.” Trump also mentioned that he has a concrete plan to end the war, stating, “I hope it’s quick. People are dying every day. The war in Ukraine is very bad. I want to end this damn thing.”

TALKS BEGIN FOR UKRAINE Vice President JD Vance will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference next week. Trump expressed his desire to make a $500 million deal with Zelensky for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and gas in exchange for security guarantees in a potential peace agreement.