In a significant diplomatic maneuver, President Trump engaged in a second phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin within a 24-hour span. This latest dialogue follows closely on the heels of an in-person meeting Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Miami. The primary focus of these high-level discussions centered on avenues to de-escalate and ultimately end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the interaction, describing the call with President Putin as “positive” and specifically mentioning that it concerned Ukraine. The conversation also reportedly touched upon recent security developments, including alleged security concerns. Reports indicated that President Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, conveyed that President Trump expressed strong reactions to an alleged attack on the Russian president’s residence, an assertion that Ukraine has refuted.

During the call, President Trump made a notable comment regarding military aid, stating, “Thank God we didn’t give Zelensky Tomahawk missiles.” This statement comes amid ongoing efforts to broker peace. Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had foreshadowed a swift follow-up conversation between the two leaders, which indeed materialized.

Prior to his meeting with President Zelenskyy, President Trump had characterized a previous call with President Putin as “good and very productive.” He expressed optimism that both sides were approaching a resolution to the war, stating his belief that progress was being made.

While President Trump indicated that a potential agreement to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seemed closer than ever, he also acknowledged that no concrete advancements had been made regarding the critical issue of territorial control. Following his discussions with President Zelenskyy, Trump suggested that peace efforts were entering their “final stages,” although he refrained from setting a definitive timeline for a resolution.