During a joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Donald Trump discussed his ongoing communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, framing the conversations as a sign of progress toward peace in Ukraine. “I saw a very interesting President Putin today. I mean, he wants to see it happen. He wants to see it. He told me very strongly. I believe him,” Trump stated, emphasizing his confidence in Putin’s intentions.

Trump also referenced their past interactions regarding the “Russia Russia Russia hoax,” noting, “Don’t forget, we went through the Russia Russia Russia hoax together and he'd call me, I'd call him, I'd say 'Can you believe the stuff they're making up?' It turned out we were right. They made it all up.” The remarks revive Trump’s longstanding claims about the 2019 investigation into alleged Russian election interference, which he contrasts with bipartisan Senate findings documenting over 100 contacts between his campaign and Russian nationals.

The press conference highlighted Trump’s position that direct engagement with world leaders, including both Putin and Zelenskyy, is essential for negotiating a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Officials noted that the phone calls before and after the Mar-a-Lago meeting were part of broader efforts to coordinate ceasefire discussions and explore pathways for diplomatic progress.

Trump’s remarks, blending optimism about current diplomacy with reflections on past political controversies, underscore his emphasis on personal diplomacy and direct negotiation as tools for advancing U.S. foreign policy goals in high-stakes international conflicts.