Putin and Trump discussed Ukraine conflict

Today, on December 28, a telephone conversation took place between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is the ninth contact between the leaders in 2025. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, during the conversation the leaders exchanged Christmas and New Year greetings and wished happiness to the peoples of Russia and the United States.

Trump noted that he became convinced of Moscow's desire to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine through political and diplomatic means. At the same time, they agreed that the temporary ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and Europeans under the pretext of a referendum would only prolong the conflict. Both leaders emphasized that Kyiv must promptly make a decision on Donbas, taking into account the actual situation on the front line.

Moscow and Washington agreed to establish two working groups on a peace agreement: one will focus on security, the other on the economy. The parameters of their work will be defined in early January 2026.

Another conversation between Putin and Trump is planned after Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Mar-a-Lago.

Context

This continues a series of diplomatic contacts between Russia and the United States initiated in 2025.