Trump Presses Putin for Swift End to Ukraine War in ‘Confidential’ Call

Sep. 8, 2026 Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The White House; kremlin.ru U.S. President Donald Trump urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin during an hour-long phone call to end the war against Ukraine in order to open up “impressive” U.S.-Russian trade prospects, the Kremlin said Tuesday. “Donald Trump clearly conveyed the idea that an early end to the conflict would be desirable,” Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters. Trump was said to have pitched the idea, which Ushakov claimed Putin supports, as a way to “immediately open impressive and large-scale prospects for the full restoration” of U.S.-Russian relations. Ushakov added that Trump emphasized the “enormous benefits” of developing U.S.-Russian trade and economic ties. “Donald Trump is interested in achieving a breakthrough during his presidency,” he said. The White House did not immediately confirm that Putin and Trump spoke by phone. Putin continues to demand the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the unoccupied parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region as a condition for peace, a stance rejected by Kyiv. Ushakov said Putin provided Trump with an “objective and thorough analysis” of the current battlefield situation and his views about achieving the war’s objectives. Tuesday’s phone call followed visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Trump’s special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Ushakov said both presidents viewed the diplomatic outreach positively, while Putin continued to praise Trump’s mediation efforts. According to Ushakov, the latest phone call outlined “specific measures” the U.S. could take to accelerate an end to the war. “You understand yourselves that [the call] was confidential, so I will hardly be able to share many important details and nuances,” he said. Read more about: Trump , Putin , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Trump and Putin End Alaska Talks With No Deal on Ukraine After a red-carpet welcome for Putin, the talks ended earlier than expected and without the landmark peace deal that Trump had been hoping for. 4 Min read News Analysis As Putin Meets Trump in Alaska, Experts Say He’s Already Scored Big The meeting gives Putin a way to buy time, delay further U.S. sanctions and solidify military gains on the battlefield, experts say. 5 Min read Kremlin Fears Trump-Zelensky Clash Could Harm Its Shot at a Grand Bargain Moscow worries Trump may lose interest in a rapprochement deal with Putin if Washington stops engaging with Kyiv, sources told The Moscow Times. 4 Min read Moscow Weighs Saudi Arabia, UAE as Venue for Possible Putin-Trump Summit – Reuters But some Russian officials reportedly oppose holding talks in either country due to their close ties with the U.S. military and intelligence services. 1 Min read