Trump and Putin discuss potential end to Ukraine war

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a one-hour telephone conversation on September 8, 2026, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin characterized the discussion as constructive and honest, noting that the leaders evaluated the recent diplomatic missions of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv positively. During the call, Trump emphasized the urgent need to end the hostilities, suggesting that such a development could lead to a significant restoration of U.S.-Russian relations.

President Putin presented his perspective on the peace process and the status of the battlefield, while assuring his counterpart that Russia holds no aggressive designs against Europe. Following the call, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow hopes for the resumption of U.S.-mediated peace talks with Ukraine in the near future, noting that formal negotiations have remained stalled since February. Meanwhile, a Pentagon official has cautioned that the international community should remain prepared for a prolonged conflict. The Kremlin has declined to discuss specific details of a potential peace settlement publicly as diplomatic efforts continue.