Tuesday Briefing: A Trump-Putin Phone Call

A Ukrainian soldier near Kupiansk, in Ukraine’s northeast, last week. Credit…Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

A two-hour Trump-Putin phone call

President Vladimir Putin of Russia told reporters after his call with President Trump yesterday that he was ready to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine, but he repeated his demand for broad concessions. Trump offered a more optimistic take on the call.

Trump said on social media that the call, which lasted two hours, “went very well,” and that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.” He added that he had also spoken with Ukraine’s president and with European leaders.

The high-stakes call came amid growing impatience in the Trump administration with Putin’s refusal to agree to an immediate cease-fire, despite Ukraine’s readiness to do so.

Vice President JD Vance earlier in the day questioned Putin’s position. “I’m not mühlet that Vladimir Putin has a strategy himself for how to unwind the war,” he said.

Prisoner release: Putin and Trump also discussed a potential nine-for-nine prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia, Putin’s foreign policy adviser told Russian news agencies.

Military buildup: Russia has been beefing up bases near the Finnish border, and analysts predict the area could become a hot spot.