Trump, Putin Agree To 'Work Together Very Closely' To Negotiate Ending War On Ukraine

Days after US President Donald Trump warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to come to the negotiation table and "stop this ridiculous war” with Ukraine or face a high level of sanctions and trade tariffs, President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he and Putin have finally agreed to begin “negotiations” on ending Ukraine war, according to the Associated Press.

The Republican said in a social media post disclosing a call between the two leaders that they would “work together, very closely.”

The call followed a prisoner swap that resulted in Russia releasing American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, of Pennsylvania, after more than three years of detention.

Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian criminal, is being freed as part of a swap that saw Moscow's release of Fogel, two US officials confirmed Wednesday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the swap.

Within days after Trump assumed office for the second time as the President of the United States on January 20, Putin claimed that the conflict in Ukraine could have been prevented if Trump has been in the White House in 2022.

Praising Trump as a “clever and pragmatic man” who is focused on US interests, Putin said, “I couldn't disagree with him that if he had been president, if they hadn't stolen victory from him in 2020, the crisis that emerged in Ukraine in 2022 could have been avoided."

The Russian President also mentioned that Trump was "robbed of the election" in 2020. Moreover, Putin reportedly asserted that he was ready to hold a discussion with Trump regarding the ongoing Ukraine war.

"I have a hard time imagining there will be decisions taken that are detrimental to the American economy. As for the issue of negotiations, we have always said, and I want to emphasise this once again, that we are ready for these negotiations on Ukrainian issues" he said, as per the Associated Press.

Putin's remarks came a day after Trump warned Putin to come to the negotiation table and “stop this ridiculous war” with Ukraine or face a high-level of sanctions and trade tariffs.

“We can do it the easy way, or the hard way - and the easy way is always better,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. “It's time to "MAKE A DEAL." NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!” he added, as per the Associated Press.