Tue Mar 18 03:20:29 UTC 2025: ## Trump to Speak with Putin on Ukraine, Potentially Pivoting US Foreign Policy
**Washington, March 18, 2025** – US President Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18th, in a move that could significantly shift efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed Putin’s participation. The conversation is seen as a potential turning point in the conflict, three years after Russia’s initial invasion.
While details remain scarce, Trump indicated the discussion will involve territorial concessions and the control of power plants. He described the process as “dividing up certain assets,” referencing land currently under Russian control in eastern and southeastern Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This plant, the largest in Europe, has repeatedly been threatened, raising international concerns about a potential nuclear disaster.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Moscow to advance negotiations. Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions in 2022 remains a significant sticking point. Putin previously demanded Ukrainian troop withdrawal from these areas as a condition for peace.
European allies reportedly harbor concerns about Trump’s close relationship with Putin and his perceived hardline stance towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite Russia’s failure to overthrow the Ukrainian government, it retains control over substantial Ukrainian territory.
This call comes as Trump maintains his plans to impose new tariffs on April 2nd, despite recent market volatility. He defended the decision, stating it’s a step towards reclaiming economic wealth lost under previous administrations.
First Piper 