On February 12, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a 90-minute phone conversation where they agreed to initiate negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

Following this conversation, President Trump declared that both countries would have their respective teams begin discussions immediately, with the possibility of reciprocal visits between the two leaders.

In a later discussion, President Trump connected with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to explore measures to curb Russian aggression and to lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace.

Zelenskyy stressed the importance of Ukraine's direct involvement in any negotiations and insisted that no decisions regarding Ukraine be made without its participation.

European leaders raised alarms about the risk of excluding Ukraine and the European Union from the peace talks.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that any agreement reached without the involvement of Europe and Ukraine would be ineffective.

She also warned against making concessions to Russia prior to the commencement of negotiations, labeling such moves as appeasement.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

They highlighted that both Ukraine and Europe must be included in any negotiations and that Kyiv should receive robust security assurances as part of any agreement.

The Kremlin responded positively to Trump's approach, distinguishing it from the strategy of his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Russian officials characterized the direct negotiations with the U.S. as a significant advancement in diplomacy.

As talks progress, global leaders are closely observing the changing situation and the implications these negotiations may have on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.