Trump says he and Russian chief Putin have agreed to start ‘negotiations’ on ending Ukraine conflict

“We every talked concerning the strengths of our respective Nations, and the nice profit that we are going to sometime have in working collectively,” Trump stated in a social media publish disclosing particulars a couple of name that adopted a prisoner swap between the 2 nations.

“However first, as we each agreed, we need to cease the hundreds of thousands of deaths happening within the Warfare with Russia/Ukraine.”

The Republican president stated the leaders additionally “agreed to have our respective groups begin negotiations instantly” and could be alerting Ukrainian chief Volodymyr Zelenskyy about their dialog.

White Home officers declined to make clear whether or not Ukraine could be a celebration to the US negotiations with Russia.

The decision got here on the heels of a prisoner swap wherein Russia launched American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, of Pennsylvania, after greater than three years of detention on drug expenses.

Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian legal, is being freed as a part of the swap that noticed Moscow’s launch of Fogel, in line with folks acquainted with the deal who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate nonpublic particulars.

Vinnik was arrested in 2017 in Greece on the request of the US on cryptocurrency fraud expenses and was later extradited to america, the place he pleaded responsible final yr to conspiracy to commit cash laundering. He’s at present in custody in California awaiting transport to return to Russia, the officers stated.

The Kremlin stated Wednesday {that a} Russian citizen was freed in america in change for Fogel however refused to determine him till he arrives in Russia.

Trump welcomed Fogel on the White Home on Tuesday night after his return to US soil.

Fogel, an American historical past instructor who was deemed wrongfully detained by Russia, was launched in what the White Home described as a diplomatic thaw that would advance negotiations to finish the preventing in Ukraine. Fogel was arrested in August 2021 and was serving a 14-year jail sentence.

Steve Witkoff, a particular envoy for Trump, left Russia with Fogel and took him to the White Home, the place Trump greeted him. Fogel was anticipated to be reunited along with his household.

Trump declined to say if he spoke with Putin about Fogel and did not say what america supplied in change for Fogel’s launch.

Chatting with reporters on the White Home on Tuesday, Trump steered that Fogel’s launch might assist anchor a peace deal on Ukraine, saying: “We had been handled very properly by Russia, really. I hope that is the start of a relationship the place we will finish that conflict.”

The Kremlin was extra cautious, nevertheless it additionally famous that the deal might assist strengthen mutual belief.