Russia and Ukraine set to negotiate soon, says Trump

US president suggests peace talks could take place at the Vatican after speaking to both leaders on the phone yesterday

- ANDREW FEINBERG IN WASHINGTON DC

Moscow and Kyiv will begin ceasefire talks with the aim of bringing an end to the war Donald Trump said yesterday as he divulged details of his separate phone calls with both leaders yesterday.

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said the call with Russian president Vladimir Putin went “very well” and the conditions of the ceasefire would be “negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of” and suggested that talks between the two nations could be hosted at the Vatican following an offer by Pope Leo XIV.

He added that the tone of his conversation with Mr Putin had been excellent and suggested that the Russian leader had expressed a desire for “largescale TRADE” with the US after the war is ended.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED. Likewise, Ukraine can be a great beneficiary on Trade, in the process of rebuilding its Country. Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately,” he said.

Mr Trump also stated that he communicated the substance of the call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders, including French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Frederich Merz.

“We just spent two and a half hours talking to Vladimir Putin, and I think some progress has been made,” he said before adding that the war is a “terrible situation”.