This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social statement, has blasted to pieces the Joe Biden practice of giving massive billions of dollars to Ukraine to pursue its half of the war with Russia, by announcing he's discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin ending the conflict.
And the negotiations, in essence, are to begin immediately.
Trump had campaigned on the promise of ending the violent and costly war between Russian and Ukraine. Joe Biden had authorized sending some $66 billion to Ukraine, more than one-third of what the entire world had offered Ukraine.
Trump announced he discussed the war with Putin and they agreed to "work together, very closely" to end the fight.
Trump said he immediately would talk with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the progress.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special Russia-Ukraine envoy, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, are to meet later this week at a conference where Zelenskyy also will attend.
Trump's comments came only moments after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a NATO conference that some of Ukraine's aspirations, including NATO membership, simply are not realistic.
And he said American funding is dropping, meaning security guarantees for Ukraine will have to be funded by European countries.
Trump's statement said, "Just had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. We discussed Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects. 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!
"We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together. But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.
"President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, "COMMON SENSE." We both believe very strongly in it. We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other's Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately, and we will begin by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to inform him of the conversation, something which I will be doing right now."
Trump said Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will be working on the deal-making.
"I feel strongly, will be successful. 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. I believe this effort will lead to a successful conclusion, hopefully soon!"
CBS reported that Hegseth's earlier comments explained security guarantees are needed for Ukraine, but they "should not be provided through NATO membership, but must instead be backed by capable European and non-European troops."
Hegseth had explained that Ukraine's call for returning to its pre-2014 borders wasn't a likely outcome.
