- This news is developing: further information to come
The US representative to Russia and Ukraine has allegedly informed allies that he is preparing "end of war" options to present to President Trump in an effort to bring the conflict to a close.
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He had previously rejected claims that a proposal from him would be presented at the Munich Security Conference this week.
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President Trump has repeatedly stated that he wishes to bring an end to the conflict and plans to meet with Putin to discuss the matter, although the exact date and location of their summit remain undisclosed.
The Kremlin has provided a similarly ambiguous response regarding negotiations with the U.S., stating today that it could neither confirm nor deny whether the two leaders had engaged in a conversation to explore a means of ending the conflict.
When asked if he had spoken to Putin since becoming president on January 20 or before, Trump replied: "I have spoken with him. Let's just say I have spoken with him...And I expect to speak with him many more times. We need to end this war."
"If we are discussing this, I do not want to share information about our conversation," Trump said.
"There are indeed many sensitive conversations taking place," U.S. national security advisor Mike Waltz said to NBC, indicating that Trump might employ sanctions and tariffs to influence Russia's actions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on Sunday that he could neither confirm nor deny a reported phone call between Putin and Trump, repeating a previous statement: 'There is nothing else I can say.'
Mr. Peskov said on Sunday that "many different communications are emerging."
While Trump has expressed hesitation about continuing financial assistance to Ukraine, he has attempted to negotiate a new agreement that would provide aid in exchange for access to Ukraine's scarce mineral resources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made overtures towards working towards such an agreement in remarks to Reuters on Friday: "If we are discussing a deal, then let's make a deal, we are in favor of it."
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