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A top Trump administration official has confirmed that President-elect Donald Trump plans to engage in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days.

Some shit you should know before you read: Since the war in Ukraine kicked off, relations between the United States and Russia have reached a historic low, marked by minimal direct communication between leaders. President Joe Biden last spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12, 2022, warning of severe consequences if Russia proceeded with its invasion of Ukraine. Following the escalation of the war, Biden has publicly stated that he sees “no good reason” to engage in further talks with Putin unless Russia demonstrates a willingness to change its course of action.

What’s going on now: In an interview on ABC, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, confirmed that preparations are underway for an upcoming phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Waltz stated, “I do expect a call … at least in the coming days and weeks. So, that would be a step, and we’ll take it from there.”

The call is expected to center on the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Trump aiming to push for a ceasefire as a first step toward a broader diplomatic resolution. Waltz added that President Trump views direct engagement with adversaries as critical for resolving issues around the world. He said, “From President Trump’s perspective, you can’t enter a deal if you don’t have some type of relationship and dialog with the other side.”

This all comes as President-elect Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to bring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to broker a peace agreement. Trump has repeatedly stated that his goal is to end the ongoing war in Ukraine quickly. In a recent press conference, Trump said, “President Putin wants to meet. He’s said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess.”