Next week, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to have another phone call, the US leader's special envoy Steve Witkoff said. The conversation will continue the dialogue that began on February 12, when the two leaders held talks for the first time in three years, which Trump called "lengthy and extremely productive." The main topic of discussion remains the search for ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, which Trump said he wants to end as soon as possible "to stop the deaths of millions of people."

Steve Witkoff, speaking to journalists, spoke about his recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which lasted about three to four hours. According to him, the talks were held in a positive atmosphere, which, in the opinion of the American side, creates the basis for further cooperation. Witkoff emphasized that the main goal of his visit was to establish working contacts at the highest level, as well as to prepare for the upcoming telephone conversation between the leaders of the two countries. He also noted that not only issues related to Ukraine were discussed, but also other aspects of bilateral relations, including nuclear arms control and the situation in the Middle East.

The upcoming conversation will be an important stage in the implementation of Trump's foreign policy strategy, who from the first days of his second term has emphasized the need to end the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible. Earlier, speaking before Congress, the US President announced his intention to achieve peace based on a "realistic approach", which caused concern among European allies who feared that Washington could make concessions to Moscow to the detriment of Kyiv's interests. In particular, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized at a meeting in Brussels that Ukraine's accession to NATO is "unrealistic" and the return of all territories occupied by Russia is "illusory", which was perceived as a signal of a possible revision of American policy in the region.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed its readiness for dialogue, but stressed that any agreements must take into account “realities on the ground.” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously stated that Moscow insists on fulfilling its conditions, including Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO and recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over four regions that it considers its own, despite the lack of full control over them. These demands have been repeatedly rejected by the Ukrainian side, which insists on the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”