U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace talks over the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

This comes after a phone call between the two leaders on February 12, marking their first confirmed conversation since Trump returned to the White House.

The call lasted nearly 90 minutes and was described as “lengthy and highly productive.” Both leaders agreed it is time to work together for a solution to end the war.

Trump shared that the goal is to stop the massive loss of life in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The meeting in Saudi Arabia is likely to include Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who helped with a recent prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia. Putin has also invited Trump to visit Moscow after the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Trump, who wants a quick resolution to the war, suggested that Ukraine joining NATO—a key Russian demand—might not be realistic.

However, he reassured that Ukraine’s interests would still be considered in the peace process. Trump and Putin plan to begin negotiations right away, with both sides preparing teams for a possible deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wasn’t part of the initial call with Putin but later spoke with Trump.

Trump assured Zelensky that both he and Putin wanted peace, while Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s need to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The announcement of the talks has raised concerns, particularly in Ukraine and Europe, as some fear the U.S. might give in to Russia’s demands.

NATO membership for Ukraine and the return to pre-2014 borders are points of disagreement. Some European leaders, including those from France, Germany, and Spain, have stated that Ukraine must be involved in any peace agreement, as well as its European partners. As discussions unfold, the international community will closely follow developments in the search for peace.