Trump just called Putin. Putin picked up. Now, they’re apparently starting peace talks for Ukraine—like, right now.

And because things weren’t already dramatic enough, Trump then called Zelenskyy to fill him in on the details. Meanwhile, NATO and EU leaders are scrambling in Brussels and Munich, trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

So, what do we know? Let’s break it down.

The Trump-Putin Call: What Went Down?

According to Trump, he and Putin talked for over an hour on Wednesday. The key takeaways:

✅ They agreed to start peace negotiations immediately.
✅ Trump and Putin plan to visit each other’s countries (because why not?), but first, they’ll meet in Saudi Arabia.
✅ After chatting with Putin, Trump called Zelenskyy—but not before letting the world know about his productive call with Russia.

Sounds like a historic moment, right? Well, not everyone’s convinced.

The U.S.: “This Is Not a Betrayal!”

🎙️ Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary, entering NATO talks in Brussels

When reporters confronted Hegseth about Trump’s move, he was quick to defend it:

💬 “This is not a betrayal of Ukraine.”

But then, he dropped a bombshell:

🚨 Ukraine will likely NOT get back all the land Russia has taken.
🚨 Ukraine’s NATO membership? Not gonna happen.

That’s… kind of a big deal. For years, the U.S. has been one of Ukraine’s biggest backers. Now, Washington seems ready to cut a deal—and Ukraine might not like the terms.

Ukraine: “Wait, What?!”

🎙️ Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President

Zelenskyy got Trump’s call after Putin. Awkward.

💬 “We believe that the strength of the U.S., together with us and our partners, is enough to pressure Russia into peace.”

Translation? Ukraine is not thrilled about these talks happening without them.

🔴 The biggest concern?

• If Trump and Putin are leading the negotiations, Ukraine might have to accept territorial losses.
• Putin has already shut down Zelenskyy’s idea of swapping certain territories to end the war.
• Ukraine being left out of NATO is a HUGE blow.

Meanwhile, Europe is watching nervously.

NATO & EU: “Uh… Can We Talk About This?”

🎙️ Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary General

NATO leaders are all gathered in Brussels, and Rutte made one thing clear:

💬 “There can’t be a Minsk 3. We can’t make the same mistake again.”

(For those who don’t remember: The Minsk Agreements were peace deals from 2014 & 2015 that were supposed to end the war in Eastern Ukraine… but, well, didn’t.)

👀 Germany & France are especially skeptical:

• Germany’s Defense Minister says dropping Ukraine’s NATO membership before negotiations even begin is a mistake.
• France’s Defense Minister called this a “moment of truth” for NATO’s future.

Basically, Europe is saying:
💭 “We want peace, but this better not be a sellout.”

What Happens Next?

So, here’s where we stand:

➡️ Trump & Putin say peace talks are happening—now.
➡️ The first meeting could be in Saudi Arabia.
➡️ Ukraine is worried about getting forced into a bad deal.
➡️ NATO & the EU are not sure what to think.

Is this actually the beginning of the end of the war? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just the start of a whole new political game.

Either way, The Loop will keep you posted.

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