**Trump Talks to Putin About Ending Ukraine War**
US President Donald Trump has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine. However, he did not reveal how many times they have talked.
According to a report by the New York Post on February 8, Trump claimed that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine would not have happened if he had been president in 2022. He said he has a concrete plan to end the war and wants it to be over quickly, as people are dying every day.
**A Good Relationship with Putin**
Trump also mentioned that he “always had a good relationship” with Putin. He believes that Putin cares about the deaths on the battlefield and wants to put an end to the war.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to confirm or deny whether Trump had spoken with Putin.
**US Wants Swift Resolution**
Since taking office in January, Trump’s administration has emphasized their desire for a swift resolution to the war. On February 7, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said they hoped to end the war “as quickly as possible.”
The administration had previously set a goal of reaching a resolution within the first 100 days of Trump’s inauguration.
**Meeting with Zelensky**
Also on February 7, Trump mentioned that he may meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky next week in Washington. Zelensky has said that Ukraine’s security is his priority in any negotiations and wants to meet with Trump before talking to Putin.
**Access to Rare Earth Minerals**
Trump has also stated that Washington wants access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for aid. Zelensky has responded that Kyiv is open to mining deals with partners.
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