Trump says he had productive discussions with Putin, war in Ukraine could end

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on March 14 that there was a “very good chance” the

war between Russia and Ukraine

could end, following productive discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 13.

“We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end,” Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, adding that he had requested that Mr Putin spare the lives of “completely surrounded” Ukrainian troops.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff had a long meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow on the night of March 13, said a source briefed on the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Truth Social post did not say if Mr Trump and Mr Putin had spoken to each other.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin had used the meeting to convey “signals” to Mr Trump through Mr Witkoff.

He added that Russia and the US would work out the timing of a phone call between their presidents once Mr Witkoff had briefed Mr Trump.

Mr Trump has said he wants Moscow and Kyiv to agree on a swift ceasefire to pause fighting in a conflict, which he has warned has the potential to spiral into World War III and has already cost many lives on both sides. REUTERS