'Frank And Constructive': Putin And Trump Discuss 'Idea' Of Direct Russia-Ukraine Talks

Last Updated:August 19, 2025, 07:25 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to the "idea" of direct talks with Ukraine, as he spoke by phone with Trump, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.

US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin | AP Image

President Donald Trump on Monday dialled his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and apprised him of the events unfolded in Washington, stating that he had a “very good meeting" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in the Oval Office.

Announcing a major development, Trump also stated that he had “begun arranging a peace summit" between Ukraine’s Zelenskyy and Russia’s Putin, following intensive talks with Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House.

While Trump met Zelenskyy in person on Monday, he talked to Putin over a phone call — whom he met in Alaska last week.

“At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

The US President then said that he himself would then hold a three-way summit with the Ukrainian and Russian leaders. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine," Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, Putin told Trump that he was ready to meet Zelenskyy, AFP reported.

It has been learnt that Trump had also discussed security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia, with Europe taking the lead and coordinating with Washington.

Trump said earlier that Putin had agreed to Western security guarantees for Ukraine, despite the Russian leader ruling out Kyiv’s long-held dream of joining the NATO alliance.

Here’s What Russia Said

Following Trump’s major announcement, the Kremlin confirmed the telephonic conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump and stated that both leaders discussed the idea of “raising the level of representatives" at Ukraine talks in a 40-minute call.

“The idea was discussed that it would be worthwhile to explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives from the Ukrainian and Russian sides—that is, those representatives participating in the mentioned direct negotiations," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said in audio remarks posted on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was open to the “idea" of direct talks with Ukraine, as he spoke by phone with US counterpart Donald Trump, according to the TASS news agency.

“Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump expressed support for the continuation of direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine," Ushakov said.

“The conversation was frank and highly constructive in nature."

Putin, during the call, highlighted the importance of the US leader’s efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis and thanked Trump for his hospitality during his recent visit to Alaska and the progress achieved at the summit.

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