Putin viewed as 'great competitor' but still a US 'adversary' as Ukraine negotiations loom, Leavitt says

The Trump medication simultaneously views Russian President Vladimir Putin arsenic a "great competitor" and "adversary" arsenic it hashes retired negotiations regarding the warfare successful Ukraine, White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said during a Wednesday property conference. 

"I judge this federation views Putin and Russia arsenic a large rival successful the region, astatine times an adversary," Leavitt said erstwhile asked however President Donald Trump views Russia and Putin. "But arsenic the president has said, arsenic well, helium enjoys having bully diplomatic relations with leaders astir the world. Finding that communal ground, besides calling them retired erstwhile they are wrong. Leading from a presumption of bid done strength. That's the president's top strength." 

Just up of the Wednesday day property conference, Trump announced connected Truth Social that helium had spoken to Putin connected the telephone and the 2 had agreed to statesman negotiations implicit ending the warfare successful Ukraine. 

"We agreed to enactment together, precise closely, including visiting each other’s Nations," Trump posted to Truth Social. "We person besides agreed to person our respective teams commencement negotiations immediately, and we volition statesman by calling President Zelenskyy, of Ukraine, to pass him of the conversation, thing which I volition beryllium doing close now. I person asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, to pb the negotiations which, I consciousness strongly, volition beryllium successful." 

TRUMP SAYS RUSSIA AGREES TO 'IMMEDIATELY' BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS TO END WAR IN UKRAINE

Russia and Ukraine person been astatine war since February 2022, erstwhile Russia archetypal invaded its neighboring nation. Trump has said portion connected the 2024 run way that helium would extremity the warfare if re-elected, portion claiming it would ne'er person begun if helium had been successful the Oval Office astatine the time. 

Leavitt was peppered with a fistful of questions surrounding the negotiations, including wherefore the Trump administration's peculiar envoy for Ukraine and Russia, retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg was not included connected Trump's database of U.S. officials starring the negotiations. 

Kellogg "remains a captious portion of this squad successful this effort," Leavitt said. "He's played a tremendous relation successful getting the negotiations to this point, and he's precise overmuch inactive portion of the Trump administration." 

"The president, successful his Truth pursuing the telephone telephone with Vladimir Putin, said that helium has asked Secretary of State Rubio, the Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, our nationalist information advisor present astatine the White House, Michael Waltz and Steve Witkoff, to pb the negotiations," she said. 

FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL LANDS IN US AFTER YEARS IN RUSSIAN CAPTIVITY

The Kremlin posted a Russian connection readout of the telephone telephone with Trump connected Wednesday, which was translated into English, and it reported Putin invited Trump to Moscow. Leavitt said she did not person immoderate details to stock connected a imaginable sojourn to the country. 

Trump posted a follow-up Truth Social station connected Wednesday that helium besides spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, remarking the speech "went precise well."

AMERICAN MARC FOGEL RELEASED FROM RUSSIAN CUSTODY

"He, similar President Putin, wants to marque PEACE," Trump wrote. "We discussed a assortment of topics having to bash with the War, but mostly, the gathering that is being acceptable up connected Friday successful Munich, wherever Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio volition pb the Delegation. I americium hopeful that the results of that gathering volition beryllium positive. It is clip to halt this ridiculous War, wherever determination has been massive, and wholly unnecessary, DEATH and DESTRUCTION. God bless the radical of Russia and Ukraine!" 

The announcement of the initiation of bid negotiations follows the instrumentality of Marc Fogel to the U.S. connected Tuesday. Fogel is simply a people schoolhouse teacher from Pennsylvania who was arrested successful Russia successful 2021 for possession of marijuana successful an airport. He was sentenced to 14 years successful situation earlier the U.S. secured his release. 

"I privation to convey President Putin for his clip and effort with respect to this call, and for the release, yesterday, of Marc Fogel, a fantastic antheral that I personally greeted past nighttime astatine the White House," Trump added of the merchandise successful his Truth Social station earlier Wednesday. "I judge this effort volition pb to a palmy conclusion, hopefully soon!"