The Kremlin is celebrating after a 90-minute phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine. A Russian insider described the call as having gone "very well." Kirill Dmitriev, a representative for Putin, praised the discussion as "historic," stating on social media that the leadership of both presidents has made the world safer.
The call, which began at 2 p.m., was initially reported as "going well" by White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a visit to Finland, emphasized the importance of Europe being involved in security negotiations, stating that decisions about Europe's security should include European input.
Before the call, Trump mentioned plans to discuss asset division and "power plants," likely referring to the Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russia took control of in 2022. On his social media platform, Trump expressed hope for the call, noting that while many elements of a final agreement had been settled, significant issues remained. He highlighted the ongoing loss of life, with thousands of soldiers dying weekly, and stressed the urgency of reaching a ceasefire.
Trump also commented to reporters that the situations in Russia and Ukraine are dire, but he remains optimistic about achieving a peace agreement.