Trump Pursues Talks with Putin on Ending Ukraine War

President Trump signals potential progress in U.S.-Russia discussions, though specifics remain unclear.

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. has engaged in 'very serious' discussions with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump has not confirmed whether he has directly spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin but hinted at the possibility of significant developments soon.
The president criticized the Biden administration's approach to Ukraine aid, freezing most U.S. foreign aid funding while maintaining existing military transfers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to talks with Trump and praised him as a pragmatic leader, suggesting the war might have been avoided under Trump's earlier presidency.
Ukraine's military faces increasing challenges as Russian forces advance in the eastern Donbas region, exacerbating the urgency for diplomatic resolutions.