President Donald Trump said on Saturday night that he has already spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone about ending the three-year war in Ukraine, according to a report.
In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Post aboard Air Force One, Trump disclosed the phone call between them, while declining to reveal if they had spoken more than once since he entered office.
"I’d better not say,” Trump said.
The U.S. president did, however, divulge one takeaway from their conversation.
He said he believes Putin "does care" about the death toll in the conflict.
"He wants to see people stop dying,” Trump said.
“All those dead people. Young, young, beautiful people. They’re like your kids, two million of them — and for no reason," he added.
Russian casualties are nearing 1 million dead while Trump has suggested 700,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed. Though, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously said he has only lost 43,000 soldiers.
Trump also spoke to the outlet about his relationship with Putin, saying it's "always" been "good" while trashing former President Joe Biden's leadership.
"Biden was an embarrassment to our nation. A complete embarrassment.”
Trump concluded by lamenting the deaths and urging an end to the war.
"I hope it’s fast. Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing," he said.
The news of a conversation between the two leaders comes as Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appear to be inching closer to a deal that would have the United States continue its military aid to Ukraine in exchange for the Eastern European country's coveted rare minerals.
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That deal aside, Trump has still been pushing for an immediate ceasefire and a quick end to the war.
Zelensky is expected to meet with Trump next week, ahead of the Feb. 14-16 Munich Security Conference. Vice President JD Vance is also slated to meet with the Ukrainian president at the Munich conference.