President Donald Trump appeared on Fox & Friends Tuesday morning to discuss his historic peace summit at the White House and a private call he made to Russian President Vladimir Putin following meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.
On Monday, Trump hosted Zelenskyy along with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I just spoke to President Putin indirectly, and we’re going to have a phone call right after these meetings today — and we may or may not have a trilat.” pic.twitter.com/g6hUMhkDAk
— Eric Deters (@bulllaw) August 18, 2025
The summit focused on security guarantees for Ukraine.
“During the meeting, we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump said. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”
Following those discussions, Trump placed a private call to Putin while still at the White House. He later announced that the call was a success and that he is arranging a direct meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy as a step toward ending the war.
“They had no communication with the White House for years as people died, years with Biden and his people, no communication. Putin told me, years, it was years that he didn’t speak to anybody from the White House, and it was a long time that he didn’t speak to anybody from Europe.”
Trump described the U.S.-Russia relationship under Biden as “fractured,” stressing the need for dialogue. “In this case, two to tango. They have to have somewhat of a relationship. Otherwise, we’re just wasting a lot of time,” he said.
The president also pointed to his recent meeting with Putin in Alaska as evidence of their working relationship.
“Despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, which truly was a very dangerous thing for our country, I maintained a very good relationship. You saw that when he got off his plane, I got off my plane, there’s a warmth there … and it’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”
Trump explained that he informed the European leaders he would be contacting Putin after the summit.
“By the time I called him, it was one o’clock in the morning in Russia. We had a very good call, and I told them that we’re going to set up a meeting with President Zelensky, and you and he will meet, and then after that meeting, if everything works out, I’ll meet, and we’ll wrap it up,” Trump said.
He emphasized that his focus is to end the conflict and save lives.
“If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty— I want to try and get to heaven, if possible.”
Trump also referenced previous negotiations he brokered between India and Pakistan and reiterated his belief that his diplomatic efforts prevented further escalation.
