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U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he spoke on the phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in an attempt to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Trump revealed this in an interview with the New York Post.
When asked how many times he had spoken with Putin, Trump replied: “I’d rather not say.”
Additionally, the article states that Trump believes Putin is “genuinely concerned” about the killings on the battlefield.
“He (Putin) wants people to stop dying,” Trump said.
“All these dead people. Young, young, beautiful people. They’re like your children, two million of them – and for nothing,” he added.
According to Trump, the three-year war “would never have started” if he had been president in 2022.
“I always had a good relationship with Putin. Biden has been a disgrace to our nation. A complete disgrace,” Trump added, comparing himself to his predecessor Joe Biden.
Trump said he has a concrete plan to end the war.
“I hope it will be quick. People are dying every day. This war in Ukraine is very bad. I want to put an end to it,” he said.
Furthermore, Trump stated that he wants to strike a $500 million deal with Zelenskyy for access to rare earth minerals and gas in Ukraine in exchange for security guarantees in any potential peace agreement.
Previously, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 5, for the first time, that contacts with Donald Trump’s administration “do exist.“
Trump also stated that he may meet with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy as early as next week.
Earlier, Trump mentioned that the U.S. is currently “talking with the Russians and the Ukrainian leadership.”
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy believes that his meeting with Trump should precede determining the format of talks with the Russians.
Read also: Zelenskyy: Russia has sent DPRK soldiers to Kursk region again
