The White House provides the following readout from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz following President Trump’s phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

WHITE HOUSE – “Today, President Donald J. Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fantastic phone conversation. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for a productive start for the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on March 11th. The meeting of the senior officials from both nations significantly helped in moving toward ending the war.

President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for the support of the United States, especially the Javelin missiles that President Trump was first to provide, and his efforts towards peace. The leaders agreed Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war, and that lasting peace under President Trump’s leadership can be achieved.

President Trump fully briefed President Zelenskyy on his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the key issues discussed. They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defense staffs as the battlefield situation evolved. President Zelenskyy asked for additional air defense systems to protect his civilians, particularly Patriot missile systems, President Trump agreed to work with him to find what was available particularly in Europe.

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President Donald Trump spoke to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following yesterday’s discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  President Trump gives a brief summary via his Truth Social account:

[Source]

Leaking to Politico, because of course they do, the Ukraine team said the call was “not bad.”

[…] “This call was indeed not bad. Trump shared some things from his conversation with Putin, discussed further steps, the work of the teams, and needed to meet again and talk about how everything would work out,” said a senior Ukrainian official who was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive call.

“I would not speak about any reactions, would just say that the whole tone of the conversation was that we have to move on,” the official added.

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Here is the Russian perspective of the Trump-Putin phone call as provided by the Kremlin:

“Leaders continued a detailed and frank exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for his desire to contribute to the noble goal of ending hostilities and loss of life.

Confirming principled commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, the President of Russia declared his readiness to work together with his American partners to carefully study possible ways to resolve the conflict, which should be comprehensive, sustainable and long-term.

And, of course, take into account the unconditional need to address the root causes of the crisis and Russia’s legitimate security interests.

In the context of the initiative of the President of the United States to introduce a 30-day truce, the Russian side outlined a number of significant points regarding ensuring effective control over a possible ceasefire along the entire line of contact, the need to stop forced mobilization in Ukraine and rearmament of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Serious risks associated with the inability of the Kiev regime, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated the agreements reached, were also noted. Attention was drawn to the barbaric terrorist crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of the Kursk Region.

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Apparently, an interview with President Trump was scheduled to take place earlier today and fell immediately following President Trump talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin about a ceasefire of hostilities in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, the interview was scheduled with the insufferable Laura Ingraham, aka Mrs. Hannity, who injects her views and opinions during every interview.

President Trump gave a high-level overview of his “very good phone call” with Putin that has led to an agreement to begin a ceasefire process.  As noted by President Trump there is an opportunity to unlock a strategic relationship with Russia for a more peaceful world and an unlocking of a greater economic collaboration.

The conversation then shifts to a discussion of the latest breaking news surrounding activist DC Judge James Boasberg and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.  WATCH:

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President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin held a multi-hour phone conversation earlier today.  Both the Kremlin and Trump administration release statements conveying agreement to a drawdown in combat and a 30-day ceasefire of hostilities beginning with a stoppage of energy and infrastructure bombardment.

President Trump releases the following message via Truth Social: “My phone conversation today with President Putin of Russia was a very good and productive one. We agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.

This War would have never started if I were President! Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end. That process is now in full force and effect, and we will, hopefully, for the sake of Humanity, get the job done!” ~ Donald Trump

The White House releases the following readout:

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Some interesting developments in the aftermath of special envoy Steve Witkoff spending four hours in discussions with President Vladimir Putin.

After Witkoff relayed the substance of the lengthy Putin meeting, the White House and President Trump announced a phone call between Trump and Putin is scheduled for Tuesday.  The Kremlin have confirmed the call schedule.

It is important to stay focused on the factual aspects to these ongoing negotiations.  President Putin’s public statements after the Witkoff meeting essentially said Russia agrees in principle with the need for a ceasefire, and the details of coordinating a 2,000km long point of conflict need to be worked out.

Meanwhile, in somewhat of a surprise statement, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s commissioner for sanctions policy, said they are open to the removal of economic sanctions against Russia as part of a negotiated peace deal.

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Together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special Envoy/Ambassador Steve Witkoff, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is one of the three key delegation members negotiating with Ukraine and Russian officials.

Steve Witkoff has spent more time in direct face-to-face meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin than any other official or diplomat in many years.  Marco Rubio is the diplomat in charge as point of contact for all foreign stakeholders, and Mike Waltz talks directly to his peers in the security services of both Russia and Ukraine.

Mike Waltz appears on Fox News to discuss current foreign policy matters including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Hamas war and the current U.S. targeting of Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

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President Trump is likely to have another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week according to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff was in Moscow Thursday for talks with President Putin and he shares how many specific details and issues were discussed.  The conflict zone in Ukraine is 2,000 kilometers long, with Russian and Ukraine fire on multiple points.  Despite a ceasefire on such a complicated scale, Steve Witkoff is optimistic it is possible.  Video and Transcript Below:

[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to President Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who joins us this morning from Miami Beach. Welcome back to “Face the Nation,” Ambassador.

SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST STEVE WITKOFF: Thank you. Thank you, Margaret. Thanks for having me.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you just heard Secretary of State Rubio talk about these efforts to broker a ceasefire. You were the man face-to-face with Vladimir Putin. I wonder what your answer to the question is, in regard to whether this is a delay tactic or whether Vladimir Putin is sincere in seeking a ceasefire?

STEVE WITKOFF: Well, I was there for quite some time, Margaret, and I agree with the Secretary’s assessment. We made a lot of progress in that meeting. It was a meeting that was- it could have been as long as four hours, but it was certainly at least three. We talked about a lot of specifics, and I point to the large gap that existed between Ukraine and Russia prior to the inauguration, and where we are today. We have narrowed the issues between both of these parties, making a lot of progress, in my opinion, and I think that meeting underscores that.

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At the conclusion of a G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks about the geopolitical realities of coming to a place where a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is possible.

This is a very solid outline from Marco Rubio who appears to have found his ideal career position as U.S. Secretary of State.  Rubio simply shines in this role.  This is a 20-minute press conference where Rubio weaves through the narrative engineering, and puts the bigger picture of national security, economic security, and pragmatic U.S. foreign policy into a very well-presented package.

As the Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick interview yesterday was a ‘must watch’ segment, so too is this press conference by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  WATCH:

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Why isn’t Volodymyr Zelenskyy the one asking for mercy?  That’s the larger, unspoken message from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking directly to President Donald Trump’s request for Russia to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers surrounded in the Kursk region, President Vladimir Putin says they will be spared if they lay down their arms and surrender.

Notice how Putin draws a distinction between President Trump and President Zelenskyy.

Putin says, “we are sympathetic to President Trump’s call to be guided by humanitarian considerations,” and then Putin shifts the emphasis on the absence of this plea from bloodthirsty Zelenskyy.  “There must be an appropriate order from the military and political leadership of Ukraine to its troops to lay down their arms and surrender,” Putin said.

“We have read today’s appeal from President Trump to spare the lives of servicemen of the Ukrainian Army in the Kursk region. In this regard, please note that Ukrainian militants have committed numerous crimes against civilians. These acts, as I have already stated, are classified by us as terrorism. At the same time, we are sympathetic to President Trump’s call to be guided by humanitarian considerations regarding these servicemen. In this regard, I emphasize that if they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment. To effectively implement President Trump’s call, there must be an appropriate order from the military and political leadership of Ukraine to its troops to lay down their arms and surrender.”  ~ President Putin

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