President Donald Trump (R) has announced that negotiations have begun between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine to end the war in Eastern Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and the death toll from the conflict is in the millions, according to President Trump.
The 45th and 47th President announced the beginning of negotiations on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump shared his acknowledgment of both the United States and Russia's partnership during World War II, and how that relationship could be restored.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 12, 2025
"I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia," began Trump. "We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects. We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we likewise, lost so many lives. We talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together."
Furthermore, President Trump declared that "millions of deaths" have resulted from this conflict, and that "common sense" will be achieved through negotiations to end the war.
"But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of 'COMMON SENSE'. We both believe very strongly in it. We agreed to work together, to see if we can bring this horrible and tragic War to a rapid conclusion, through negotiations," said Trump. "We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now."
Additionally, Trump shared his intention to tap members of his cabinet to lead these negotiations, and said if he was president during the start of the war instead of former President Joe Biden (D), then this conflict never would've happened.
"I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful. Millions of people have died in a War that should not have happened. If we were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost.
Trump concluded by saying "I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort in respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!"