- Associated Press - Wednesday, February 12, 2025

MOSCOW — President Donald Trump says he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to begin “negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war.

The Republican said in a social media post Wednesday disclosing a call between the two leaders that they would “work together, very closely.”



The call followed a prisoner swap that resulted in Russia releasing American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, of Pennsylvania, after more than three years of detention.

Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian criminal, is being freed as part of a swap that saw Moscow’s release of Fogel, two U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the swap.

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