U.S. President Donald Trump has commented for the first time on his phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing the talks as great.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump stated that Putin wants to make a deal and added that it would be very good if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants one as well.
Answering a follow-up question regarding the reasons for the delay in reaching an agreement, Trump said the issue involved two people who hate each other. The American leader noted that he understands dealmaking and described the Russian and Ukrainian presidents as two people who are tired of fighting.
The comments by Trump came a day after the Kremlin reported on September 8 that the two leaders had held a telephone call lasting almost an hour. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said the discussion proceeded positively and covered planned travels by U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv.
Witkoff and Kushner were appointed by the Trump administration to lead diplomatic engagements with officials in Russia and Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv have been engaged in a full-scale conflict since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, leading to multiple diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the hostilities.
Kremlin Strategy and ISW Assessment
Military analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War suggested that Putin likely used the telephone exchange with Trump to push a distorted view of battlefield conditions in Ukraine. The American research group highlighted comments from Ushakov, who said Putin provided Trump with an objective and thorough summary of front-line developments while outlining options for the U.S. to resolve the war quickly.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Putin regularly makes absurd and exaggerated statements about Russian troop advancements to build a narrative of continuous and unavoidable military success. Analysts assessed that Putin attempted to use the call to convince Trump that Washington must pressure Ukraine into conceding to Russian demands before the situation on the front line worsens for Kyiv.
The Institute for the Study of War provides ongoing analysis of military operations and diplomatic maneuvers across the region. Separately, U.S. expectations outlined by Marco Rubio indicate that Washington aims to prepare a plan within a few weeks to restart formal negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
