Trump pronounces shock ‘productive’ name with Putin forward of Zelenskyy assembly
US President Donald Trump has revealed a surprise phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been held just hours before he meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump called the phone call with Putin, which comes after the Kremlin denied rumours that the two would speak, as “good and very productive”.
The US President also confirmed that members of the press will be present during the meeting with the Ukraine President later today (December 28).
Speaking on Truth Social, Trump said: “I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The meeting will take place in the main dining room of Mar-a-Lago. Press is invited.”
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Trump’s announcement of a conversation with Putin comes as his Vice President JD Vance has warned Ukraine it will lose territory in the peace deal.
In a recent interview with UnHerd, JD Vance said that “the Russians really want territorial control of Donetsk” while leaders in Kyiv “privately acknowledge that, eventually, they’ll probably lose” the region.
According to Vance, “it could be 12 months from now, it could be longer than that. So that territorial concession is a significant hold-up in the negotiations.”
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