Trump reported on past phone conversation with Putin

US President Donald Trump claims that he had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. He said this in a conversation with journalists while aboard Air Force One on February 8.

"I'd rather keep silent," the New York Post (NYP) quotes Trump's response to a question about how many times he has spoken with the Russian president.

At the same time, the American leader said Putin wants people to stop dying.

According to him, he has a concrete plan to end the conflict. He hopes that it will be quick as people are dying on the battlefield every day.

He also added that he wants to make a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expired May 20, 2024) for access to rare earth minerals and $500 million worth of gas in exchange for security guarantees.

In business readiness: Putin assessed the prospects for talks with Trump

Will Russian and US leaders be able to agree on ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict and other issues?

Earlier on Feb. 5, Trump said Washington is currently holding "very constructive talks" with Moscow and Kiev to find a way to resolve the ongoing conflict. On the same day, his special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said that the American president intends to tighten sanctions against Russia in the oil sector to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia and theUnited States were negotiating with each other at the level of separate agencies, and their dialog had recently become more active.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the aggravated situation in the region.