Trump Thanks Vladimir Putin for ‘Highly Productive’ Call Over Ukraine: He ‘Even Used’ My ‘Campaign Motto’

AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File

President Donald Trump thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for participating in a “highly productive” phone call in which new details emerged about diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine, which began with Putin’s unprovoked invasion of his western neighbor.

Trump confirmed earlier reports of a diplomatic phone call in a social media post published midday on Wednesday and revealed that the discussion that covered “Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.”

While the message included some details about the convivial nature of the call, the most newsworthy bit focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, though  Trump framed it as “War with Russia/Ukraine.”

“…we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine,” Trump wrote before boasting about how “President Putin even used my very strong Campaign motto of, ‘COMMON SENSE.’ We both believe very strongly in it.”

Trump posted on Truth Social

I 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. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to lead the negotiations which, 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!

Some might remember that Trump promised that he would bring an end to the Ukrainian invasion by the Russian military on the first day of his presidency while campaigning for his second term.

Trump concluded by thanking Putin for the call and insisting that “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,” failing to note that Putin is the sole individual responsible for the deaths of millions of people (though his estimate of “millions” seems a gross exaggeration.)

No more lives should be lost!” Trump ended his missive. “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!”