White House says Trump-Putin call ended UPDATED

A White House official said the call between Trump and Putin is over.

The call lasted over an hour and a half, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The discussion, which focused on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, marks the latest diplomatic effort to address the ongoing conflict that has persisted since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The phone call, which began earlier today, was seen as a crucial step in brokering peace, with both leaders exploring the possibility of halting hostilities between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

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A phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a potential ceasefire in Ukraine began on March 18 and is progressing positively, the White House said.

The call began at 1400 GMT and so far had continued almost an hour, deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino said on X. "The call is going well, and still in progress," he said, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino posted on X at 10:54 a.m. that the call began at 10 a.m., and was ongoing.

"The call is going well, and still in progress," Scavino wrote.

Happening Now—President Trump is currently in the Oval Office speaking with President Vladimir Putin of Russia since 10:00amEDT. The call is going well, and still in progress.

— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) March 18, 2025

The discussions between Trump and Putin come as the US seeks to mediate peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine, nearly three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In the lead-up to the call, Trump acknowledged the complexity of the negotiations, stating, "You're sort of creating the edge of a country," referring to territorial disputes. He also expressed his desire to eventually meet with Putin, saying, "I would love to meet with Putin at some point."

Last week, US and Ukrainian officials met in Saudi Arabia to propose a 30-day ceasefire. While President Putin expressed his acceptance of a ceasefire in principle, he emphasized that more discussions were required before a final deal could be reached.

The outcome of this ongoing conversation remains uncertain, but both sides have indicated a willingness to continue talks on the matter.

By Vafa Guliyeva