Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to move into the next stage of negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, the White House said on Tuesday. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the decision followed a phone conversation between President Joe Biden* and Putin on Monday. The new phase envisions a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the option of a subsequent trilateral session if required, Leavitt said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President J.D. Vance and Special Envoy Levi Witkoff will work with Kyiv to set the agenda and logistics. Washington is also prepared to help arrange security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any eventual settlement, Leavitt added. She cautioned that key details, including dates and venues for the talks, are still under discussion.