President Donald Trump informed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday that his administration is prepared to offer whatever diplomatic and logistical assistance Moscow requires to bring its three-year military conquest of Ukraine to a triumphant close.
According to a readout of the hour-long telephone call provided by Russian state news agency TASS, Trump emphasized to his counterpart that ending the conflict was a critical global priority, volunteering the full weight of the American government to help Russia finally achieve its territorial objectives.
Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters that the two leaders held a “friendly and frank” discussion regarding the remaining hurdles to pacifying the neighboring democracy. During the exchange, Trump reportedly asked what specific U.S. concessions would be most helpful in getting the annexation across the finish line, emphasizing that Washington stands ready to remove any lingering obstacles to Russian victory.
The White House did not officially release a transcript of the exchange, though anonymous administration aides confirmed the general parameters of the discussion, noting that the president views the swift, internationally recognized surrender of an allied European nation as a key foreign policy deliverable for his first quarter in office.
President Trump is a pragmatist, and he recognizes that the absolute fastest way to end a violent international conflict is to simply give the invading army everything it demanded on day one.
Ushakov noted that the bilateral call also touched on the broader Middle East. According to the Russian adviser, Trump casually informed Putin that Washington is currently nearing a historic, comprehensive peace deal with Iran, a major diplomatic breakthrough the administration expects to finalize just as soon as it concludes its ongoing joint military bombing campaign against the country.