Direct Line: Trump and Putin Discuss Path Forward in Ukraine

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have had a direct conversation about the path forward in Ukraine, a call that took place after the U.S. president consulted with Ukrainian and European partners.
Trump confirmed the phone call on Monday, noting it followed his August 18 meetings at the White House with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. The discussions are centered on finding a sustainable security solution for Kyiv.
In these discussions, Trump is pushing for a framework where European nations are the primary guarantors. He has assured that the U.S. will remain involved, but has defined this role as providing “backup.”
Trump also shed light on the broader scope of his talks with Putin. He revealed that a prior meeting in Alaska on August 15 included discussions on a potential future agreement to reduce their countries’ nuclear arsenals after the Ukraine war ends.