Russian President Vladimir Putin has concluded a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump that took place on March 18, 2025, and lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes. This was reported by Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, who confirmed the conversation without disclosing its details. According to sources in the State Duma, the dialogue was intense and covered key issues in bilateral relations, including the situation around Ukraine. The American television channel CNN, citing its sources in the White House, described the talks as "very good", indicating a positive attitude on the part of the parties following the discussion. 

The conversation was the first major contact between the leaders since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 and was announced amid preparations for a possible ceasefire in the Ukrainian conflict. Putin and Trump were expected to touch on territorial aspects of the settlement, including the fate of Crimea and new territories that previously made up about 20% of Ukraine. The Kremlin has not yet specified what agreements might be reached.

The talks have caused a wide resonance in international circles. According to Reuters, Trump had previously stated his intention to achieve a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine supported at a meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11. However, Kyiv fears that the American leader may make concessions to Moscow, including handing over control over strategic facilities such as the port of Odessa. CNN sources in the US administration confirm that Trump is considering options for a quick end to the standoff, which could include easing sanctions against Russia in exchange for freezing the conflict. 

Meanwhile, experts note that such a lengthy conversation is rare for the leaders of the two countries, which underlines the importance of the agenda. The last such conversation between Putin and the American president took place in December 2021, when Joe Biden discussed the buildup of troops near the borders of Ukraine with the Russian leader.