Charles Maines

Good morning, Michelle.

Well, you know, sometimes after calls between leaders, you see the two sides have very different takes on what was discussed, what was agreed upon. That's not the case here. Between Trump's postings on social media and his comments to the press, everything really aligned with what we heard from Moscow.

Well, you know, sometimes after calls between leaders, you see the two sides have very different takes on what was discussed, what was agreed upon. That's not the case here. Between Trump's postings on social media and his comments to the press, everything really aligned with what we heard from Moscow.

Well, you know, sometimes after calls between leaders, you see the two sides have very different takes on what was discussed, what was agreed upon. That's not the case here. Between Trump's postings on social media and his comments to the press, everything really aligned with what we heard from Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov may have issued a more formal readout, but one that made clear these two men are in sync. So here, Peskov says Putin and Trump spoke for a full hour and a half. He went on to say that Trump reiterated his desire to end the war, and Putin agreed that was possible, provided it was a durable peace that addressed the root causes of the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov may have issued a more formal readout, but one that made clear these two men are in sync. So here, Peskov says Putin and Trump spoke for a full hour and a half. He went on to say that Trump reiterated his desire to end the war, and Putin agreed that was possible, provided it was a durable peace that addressed the root causes of the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov may have issued a more formal readout, but one that made clear these two men are in sync. So here, Peskov says Putin and Trump spoke for a full hour and a half. He went on to say that Trump reiterated his desire to end the war, and Putin agreed that was possible, provided it was a durable peace that addressed the root causes of the conflict.

Now, the spokesman also said Putin agreed with Trump that it was time for the two countries to work together, and the two men agreed to meet in person. Trump says that may happen soon in Saudi Arabia, but the Kremlin said Putin also invited Trump to Moscow. And what was the reaction in Moscow? You know, there's a sense of celebration. The Russian markets went up this morning.

Now, the spokesman also said Putin agreed with Trump that it was time for the two countries to work together, and the two men agreed to meet in person. Trump says that may happen soon in Saudi Arabia, but the Kremlin said Putin also invited Trump to Moscow. And what was the reaction in Moscow? You know, there's a sense of celebration. The Russian markets went up this morning.

Now, the spokesman also said Putin agreed with Trump that it was time for the two countries to work together, and the two men agreed to meet in person. Trump says that may happen soon in Saudi Arabia, but the Kremlin said Putin also invited Trump to Moscow. And what was the reaction in Moscow? You know, there's a sense of celebration. The Russian markets went up this morning.

This is a complete reversal by the U.S., not just from the politics of the Biden administration, which, after all, spent the past three years trying to isolate Putin, but even from the first days of the Trump administration. Trump threatened massive new sanctions on Putin to force him to the negotiating table.

This is a complete reversal by the U.S., not just from the politics of the Biden administration, which, after all, spent the past three years trying to isolate Putin, but even from the first days of the Trump administration. Trump threatened massive new sanctions on Putin to force him to the negotiating table.

This is a complete reversal by the U.S., not just from the politics of the Biden administration, which, after all, spent the past three years trying to isolate Putin, but even from the first days of the Trump administration. Trump threatened massive new sanctions on Putin to force him to the negotiating table.

That more aggressive tone by Trump was gone completely yesterday, and it's still unclear what led to the change.

That more aggressive tone by Trump was gone completely yesterday, and it's still unclear what led to the change.

That more aggressive tone by Trump was gone completely yesterday, and it's still unclear what led to the change.

Yeah, you know, Trump said he called Zelensky directly after speaking with Putin and brought him up to speed. But this was clearly not a good day for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe delivered a speech to NATO allies in which he said the U.S. believed it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders.

Yeah, you know, Trump said he called Zelensky directly after speaking with Putin and brought him up to speed. But this was clearly not a good day for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe delivered a speech to NATO allies in which he said the U.S. believed it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders.

Yeah, you know, Trump said he called Zelensky directly after speaking with Putin and brought him up to speed. But this was clearly not a good day for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Europe delivered a speech to NATO allies in which he said the U.S. believed it was unrealistic for Ukraine to regain its pre-war borders.

He also ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine, two key demands Putin has made repeatedly for a negotiated settlement. Meanwhile, it didn't help Zelensky to also hear Trump suggest Zelensky might not be around politically when and if elections are held in Ukraine. It just gave the feeling that Trump thinks Zelensky, not Putin, is the one who's the obstacle to peace here.