Trump says he discussed a Ukraine ceasefire with Putin

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he discussed a possible ceasefire in the four-year-old war in Ukraine in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He spoke after the Kremlin reported the two leaders discussed a temporary Ukraine ceasefire to mark the anniversary of the end of World War Two next month.

“We had a good talk, I’ve known him a long time,” said Trump.

Trump, speaking to reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission in the Oval Office, said he suggested “a little bit of a ceasefire” in the war in Ukraine in his phone call with the Russian leader.

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“And I think he might do that,” Trump said, then asked reporters whether Putin had already announced a ceasefire.

Trump has a history of making positive comments about Putin and sharply criticizing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for not agreeing to make a deal with Russia to end the war.

Trump said Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but “I said I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.”

“I said, before you help me, I want to end your war,” said Trump.