WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, stating that the Russian leader is eager to bring the conflict to a close.

In an interview with The New York Post on Friday, Trump declined to reveal how many times the two had spoken but insisted that Putin "wants to see people stop dying."

He described the war, now in its third year, as a senseless loss of life, asserting that it "never would have happened" had he been president in 2022.

Criticizing his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump called him "an embarrassment" and emphasized his urgency in resolving the war.

He expressed confidence in his ability to broker peace, stating, "I hope it’s fast. Every day people are dying. This war is so bad in Ukraine. I want to end this damn thing."

Alongside National Security Adviser Mike Waltz aboard Air Force One, Trump advocated for diplomatic talks, suggesting that both sides were open to negotiations.

"Let’s get these meetings going. They want to meet. Every day people are dying. Young handsome soldiers are being killed. Young men, like my sons. On both sides. All over the battlefield."

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refused to confirm or deny the report, stating that communication between Russia and the U.S. occurs through various channels.

"Of course, against the background of the multiplicity of these communications, I personally may not know something, be unaware of something. Therefore, in this case, I can neither confirm nor deny it," he told reporters in Moscow on Sunday.

Vice President J.D. Vance is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference next week. In a bid to facilitate peace, Trump has proposed a $500 million deal with Ukraine to secure access to rare-earth minerals and gas in exchange for security guarantees in any potential agreement.

Turning to Iran, Trump signaled openness to a non-nuclear agreement, expressing a preference for negotiations over military confrontation.

"I would like a deal done with Iran on non-nuclear. I would prefer that to bombing the hell out of it. ... They don’t want to die. Nobody wants to die." — Agencies