Trump says Putin wants Ukraine peace deal and considers trilateral summit

Trump comments on bilateral phone call

US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, 8 September. Speaking to reporters before departing for a Republican campaign convention in Dallas, Trump characterized the exchange as constructive and asserted that the Russian leadership is interested in reaching a negotiated settlement to end the war in Ukraine. When asked what was preventing an agreement, Trump stated that the main barrier is two people who hate each other, pointing directly to the personal conflict between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He added that his background in dealmaking gave him confidence that both leaders have grown tired of the war.

We had a great conversation. He wants to make a deal, and if Zelensky would like to make a deal, that would be very nice.

Trump also addressed the prospect of high-level diplomacy, stating that a trilateral meeting involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine remains a possibility.

Kremlin details on bilateral ties and European security

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov provided the Kremlin's official account of the phone discussion on Tuesday, prior to Trump's public remarks. Ushakov told reporters that Putin explicitly assured Trump that Russia maintains no intention of pursuing aggressive actions against European nations. The conversation also addressed broader diplomatic relations, with Trump proposing a formal restoration of normalized bilateral ties between Washington and Moscow during his presidential term, a proposal that Putin endorsed. The two leaders also discussed progress from recent envoy visits and reviewed opportunities for future prisoner exchanges between their countries.

Envoy missions to Moscow and Kyiv

The presidential telephone call followed diplomatic missions conducted over the previous weekend by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Both representatives held consultations in Moscow and Kyiv to discuss diplomatic options and evaluate conditions on the ground. Ushakov confirmed that work through this specific diplomatic channel will continue moving forward. In presenting Moscow's perspective on future negotiations, Ushakov identified Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as the Kremlin's preferred location for hosting peace talks. Ushakov also stated that the United States must halt its military and financial aid to Kyiv if fighting is to cease.

Negotiating parameters and timing

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday that Russia hopes to resume formal peace talks with Ukraine in the near future, with the United States acting as a mediator. Peskov noted that the Kremlin will not conduct public discussions regarding specific clauses or terms of any prospective peace agreement. His remarks followed earlier statements on Monday, 7 September, when Peskov told reporters that setting a specific date for a trilateral summit between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine remained premature.