Breaking news: Trump engages Putin in key call ahead of Zelenskyy’s Washington visit
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, a day before his scheduled talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bloomberg reported.
In recent weeks, Trump has signaled a desire to step up pressure on Moscow to end the war, calling on U.S. allies to reduce imports of Russian energy. He has also proposed that Washington could authorize Ukraine to use long-range Tomahawk missiles.
Such a move would be significant: the Tomahawk, a long-range weapon in the U.S. arsenal, would enable Ukrainian forces to target sites inside Russian territory. This marks a policy shift for a president who has previously prioritized securing a cease-fire.
After announcing the talks, Trump posted that his discussion with Putin was ongoing and lengthy, and that both leaders would share details afterward.
Admittedly, Trump is frustrated with Putin’s unwillingness to halt Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine or engage Zelenskyy in peace talks. Zelenskyy is expected to urge the U.S. president to approve additional advanced weaponry during Friday’s White House meeting.
