President Trump has confirmed a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about resolving the Ukraine conflict, marking their first since 2022. He emphasized the human toll of the war and noted that Putin desires an end to the violence. While Trump refrained from detailing his strategy, he expressed urgency for a swift resolution. Concurrently, Vice President-elect JD Vance is set to meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference. Trump aims to negotiate a deal involving Ukraine's rare-earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees, illustrating a complex new phase in U.S.-Ukrainian relations.