President Donald Trump announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to visit each other’s countries as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump shared details of their phone call on Wednesday, marking their first publicly acknowledged conversation since he began his second term in office.
“We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s nations,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
While no concrete plans have been made, Trump mentioned that their first face-to-face meeting of his second term could take place in Saudi Arabia. A U.S.-Russia visit by either leader would be highly unusual, but analysts say it aligns with Trump’s past diplomatic style—such as his direct engagements with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term.
Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted Trump’s preference for high-profile summits with adversaries, calling it a familiar strategy.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the call as “very positive” and emphasized Trump’s approach to maintaining diplomatic ties with global leaders. When asked if any preconditions were set for the meeting, Leavitt said she was unaware of any but did not rule out the possibility.
A meeting between Trump and Putin—especially in Washington or Moscow—would be a major diplomatic event, but discussions remain in the early stages.
