Trump and Putin Discuss Timeline for Ending the Ukraine Conflict

Trump discussed with Putin the timeframe for ending the conflict in Ukraine

The telephone conversation, which lasted about an hour, was preceded by visits to Moscow and Kyiv by US representatives.

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The telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump took place in a “mutually respectful and businesslike manner” and lasted one hour, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian president, reported on 8 September. The leaders discussed the outcome of the visits to Moscow and Kyiv by US representatives Whitcoff and Kushner on 5–6 September, which were described as “positive”, he said, adding that, due to confidentiality, the details of this “constructive and frank” conversation could not be disclosed. However, work through various channels will continue, reports *Vedomosti*.

The US President emphasised the desirability of a swift ceasefire, which would open up prospects for the restoration of relations, including in the economic sphere, Ushakov reported. Trump is keen for this to happen during his presidency (which ends in January 2029 – ed.). Putin supported this approach in the context of building a constructive partnership between the two great powers.

The Russian leader outlined the course of the special operation to Trump and indicated what the US could do to bring the hostilities to a swift conclusion, taking into account speculation regarding Russia’s alleged hostile intentions towards European states, Ushakov said. Putin emphasised that myths about the Russian threat serve merely as a pretext for increasing support for Ukraine and the US’s own military spending.

The call is a logical follow-up to the recent tour by Kushner and Whitcroft, says Pavel Koshkin, a senior research fellow at ISKRAN. According to him, the US is stepping up the diplomatic process to demonstrate the seriousness of its intentions and is attempting to restore trust, which has been shaken over the past summer.

“We should not underestimate the current positive momentum, although it offers no guarantees. For now, however, we can assume that there is the political will for dialogue. Whether that extends to concessions is another matter,” Koshkin emphasised. He warned that the current attempt at a diplomatic settlement could reach an impasse due to escalation on the part of Europe or Ukraine.

‘Synchronising watches’

Since the start of 2026, Putin has held five telephone conversations with the US president. In total, since the start of Trump’s second presidential term in January 2025, there have been 15 such conversations. The previous time Putin rang his American counterpart was in early July, to congratulate him on the 250th anniversary of US independence.

This latest conversation is a ‘synchronisation of watches’ following a full round of negotiations with all parties, says Vladimir Pavlov, a senior research fellow at the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO. “It was also undoubtedly conducted with the situation ‘on the ground’ in mind, as well as Washington’s manoeuvring regarding the situation with Iran and the approaching US mid-term elections, where the administration needs something to show for itself,” the expert emphasised.

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