Trump's call with Putin took place as members of his Cabinet, including Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, visited Europe on inaugural trips in their positions. Vance and Rubio will meet with Zelenskyy on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the White House says.

President Trump on Wednesday would not say whether he considers Ukraine to be an “equal member” of efforts to end the war between Moscow and Kyiv, as his administration pushes for negotiations

Afterward, Trump said he spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. For Putin, the talk was a major milestone, marking the collapse of Western efforts to isolate him diplomatically over the invasion of Ukraine.