Putin, Trump talk over the phone, discuss end to Ukraine war

As Zelensky reportedly offers United States access to Ukraine's rare earth and mineral deposits

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has held talks over the phone to discuss ending the war with Ukraine.

Following the conversation, President Trump said that he had “very good talks” with Russian President Putin over the phone.

Trump also mentioned that he has a concrete plan to resolve the conflict and is eager to see diplomatic talks progress.

The United States president even quoted Putin as saying that “he (Putin) wants to see people stop dying.”

Meanwhile, the White House has not officially confirmed or denied the call in a press statement.

Also, the Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied the call either.

When contacted, the Russian spokesperson stated that they are unaware of any such conversation.

Recently, there have been reports about a phone call between the United States president and his Russian counterpart.

Trump revealed in an interview with the New York Post that he spoke with Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

According to him, Putin expressed a desire to see the conflict come to an end and mentioned that he wants to see people stop dying.

The development has been applauded by international observers as worthwhile.

This is more so given the ongoing tensions and the significant impact of the war on both Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier phone conversation

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, it could be recalled, earlier had a phone conversation in November 2024.

According to reports, during the conversation, they had also discussed ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump advised Putin not to escalate the situation and reminded him of the significant US military presence in Europe.

The conversation was seen as a significant development, given Trump’s campaign promises to resolve the Ukraine conflict quickly.

During the call, Trump expressed interest in follow-up talks to work towards ending the war in Ukraine soon.

He even briefly touched upon the issue of territories, indicating a potential willingness to support a deal allowing Russia to retain some of the territories it currently holds.

It’s worth noting that Ukrainian officials were informed about the call and did not object to it, anticipating that Trump would pursue diplomatic engagement with Russia.

In the meantime, the details of the conversation and the potential implications for the Ukraine conflict are still unfolding.

The Ukraine war

The war in Ukraine has been ongoing since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, displacement of people, and widespread destruction.

Recently, there have been reports of increased fighting in the Kursk region, with both sides claiming successes and losses.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Putin of wanting to prolong the war rather than engage in ceasefire negotiations.

So far, the casualties in the Ukraine war have been devastating for both sides.

As of February 2025, the reported figures are as follows:

• Russian military casualties: Approximately 350,000 troops have been killed wounded.
  Also, between 600,000 to 700,000 have been injured, with many Russian forces reported missing in action
• Ukrainian military casualties: Around 45,100 soldiers have been killed and 390,000 wounded.
  These numbers are staggering, and the impact on Ukrainian citizens and families is immense.
• Civilian casualties: The war has also resulted in a significant number of civilian deaths.
  Estimates suggest that over 12,000 civilians have been killed, including 551 children.

These numbers are staggering and highlight the human cost of this conflict, which has been described as a “deeply tragic situation”.

The conflict has also seen significant damage to infrastructure, displacement of people, and a massive humanitarian crisis.

The international community continues to call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Whereas these numbers may not be comprehensive or up to date, as the conflict is ongoing, however, they give an indication of the scale of human suffering and loss caused by the war.

Zelensky trades off Ukraine’s rare mineral deposits to U.S.

In another recent development, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has reportedly offered the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth and mineral deposits.

According to President Zelensky, the access is in exchange for a security deal from President Trump.

Ukraine is rich in rare earth minerals, with estimates suggesting the country has around $15 trillion worth of minerals, including lithium, titanium, and other rare earth metals.

President Zelensky has expressed interest in signing a large-scale agreement with the United States to supply these minerals, which are crucial for the US economy.

The proposed agreement would not only provide economic benefits to both countries but also reduce the US’s dependence on foreign adversaries for rare earth minerals.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham have expressed support for the agreement, stating that it would make America stronger and accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery.

However, there’s a challenge – many of these mineral deposits are located in territories beyond Kiev’s control.

Zelensky has acknowledged this issue, and it remains to be seen how Ukraine and the US will navigate this complexity.

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