U.S.
President Donald Trump said Friday that White House officials had very good discussions with Russias President Vladimir Putin the day before and suggested they could help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.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, Trump wrote on Truth Social.The White House later clarified that U.S.
special envoy Steve Witkoff, not Trump, spoke to Vladimir Putin.Trumps statement came after Ukraine agreed to a U.S.-brokered 30-day ceasefire during negotiations in Saudi Arabia.The Kremlin has not formally accepted the deal to pause fighting, but Putin voiced support for the proposal in principle while raising concerns over Ukrainian troops in Russias partially occupied Kursk region.There will only be two options: surrender or die, Putin said at a press conference on Thursday, adding that Ukrainian troops captured in Kursk would be treated as terrorists.Trump appeared to reference Putins remarks, saying he had urged the Russian leader to spare the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops [who] are completely surrounded by the Russian military.I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared.
This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.
God bless them all, Trump wrote.Following Putins initial reaction to the ceasefire deal, the U.S.
tightened sanctions on Russia by allowing a key license for energy payments via Russian banks to expire.The Kremlin said the timing of a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Trump would be decided after U.S.
special envoy Steve Witkoff delivers Russias response to the White House.An earlier version of this article said that Trump spoke to Putin over the phone.
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