President Donald Trump said he had a "lengthy" call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, which included the Russian leader agreeing to "immediately" begin negotiations over the war in Ukraine. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press | Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
RUSSIA SAYS US RELATIONS 'ON THE BRINK OF A BREAKUP,' WON'T CONFIRM TRUMP-PUTIN TALK
"We both reflected on the Great History of our Nations, and the fact that we fought so successfully together in World War II, remembering, that Russia lost tens of millions of people, and we, likewise, lost so many!" Trump added in his Truth Social post of his call with Putin.
President Donald Trump thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin in his Truth Social post for Marc Fogel's release, as well as the phone call to discuss negotiations. (Aleksey Babushkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo)
Trump's announcement follows the return of Marc Fogel to the U.S. on Wednesday evening after the American had been imprisoned after being found guilty of possessing marijuana while at a Russian airport in 2021.
Trump's national security advisor, Michael Waltz, had said the U.S. and Russia "negotiated an exchange" to ensure Fogel's release, although he did not disclose what the U.S. was giving up.
Trump thanked Putin in his Truth Social post on Wednesday for Fogel's release, as well as the phone call to discuss negotiations.
Released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel reacts during a White House event held by President Donald Trump to welcome back Fogel, who had been held in Russia since 2021, on Feb. 11, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
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"Millions of people have died in a War that would not have happened if I were President, but it did happen, so it must end. No more lives should be lost! I want to thank President Putin for his time and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a wonderful man that I personally greeted last night at the White House," he wrote. "I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!"
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-russia-agrees-immediately-begin-negotiations-end-war-ukraine