White House officials wrote that calls between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin began on Monday, according to an Anadoru agency.
Trump was the first to announce that he would hold a call with Russian leaders in a social media post on Saturday. The Kremlin confirmed that the conversation would take place that day.
Trump also said he will discuss trade issues with the Russian president.
The call follows a CNN report citing the Ukrainian presidency that Trump has launched diplomacy for Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelenkie on behalf of Putin, but the US president has previously made a different statement. Trump said he would call Putin at 10am (1400gmt), followed by calls with Zelenskyy and NATO officials.
It is unclear why it prompted the reported plan changes. The White House refused to confirm or deny whether Trump Zelensky’s appeal actually happened.
Trump explained that the talks are a step towards ending “Bloodbath,” which claims more than 5,000 soldiers each week. “Hopefully it’s going to be a productive day,” he posted to The Society of Truth.
The call comes after representatives from Russia and Ukraine held their first in-person meetings in Istanbul on Friday for over three years.
MA/PR