President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about ending the Ukraine War and that negotiations would begin with a planned meeting in Munich with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

"I just spoke to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The conversation went very well. He, like President Putin, wants to make PEACE," Trump posted. "We discussed a variety of topics having to do with the War, but mostly, the meeting that is being set up on Friday in Munich, where Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the Delegation. I am hopeful that the results of that meeting will be positive. It is time to stop this ridiculous War, where there has been massive, and totally unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the people of Russia and Ukraine!"

That call followed an earlier discussion with Putin about the prospect of peace. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, also on Wednesday, confirmed that the U.S. would not deploy troops to Ukraine and indicated the country would not join NATO and likely have to cede land for a peace agreement.

"I just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects," he posted. "We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many! We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together."

"But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, 'COMMON SENSE,'" he continued. "We both believe very strongly in it. We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations."

Trump's announcement comes as the Ukraine War nears the three-year mark and the Russians make sweeping gains in the Donbas region. 

"We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now," he went on. "I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, I feel strongly, will be successful."

"Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end," he insisted. "No more lives should be lost! I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!"