U.S. President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for two hours to start negotiations on a ceasefire and the end of the war.
Trump described the conversation as “good” and also said that peace conditions need to be negotiated between the two parties.
Despite Trump’s optimism, they also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but no ceasefire or peace deal seems to be close.
Putin said he was ready to work with Ukraine to develop a “memorandum on future peace agreements”, while Zelensky said “it was a certain moment” and urged the United States not to distance itself from the negotiations.
Although Trump has expressed positiveness about his dialogue with Putin, there is no indication when peace talks will take place. The Russian president has also not resolved the demand for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire by the United States and European countries.
After convening with Trump one-on-one, Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s desire for a “full and unconditional ceasefire” and warned that if Moscow is not ready, “there must be stronger sanctions.”
Speaking before Trump spoke with Putin, Zelensky said he had asked the country without him to make any decisions about Ukraine, calling them “a matter of principle.”
He added that he had no details about the “memorandum”, but once they received anything from the Russians, they would be “able to develop their vision accordingly.”
“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations on the ceasefire, and more importantly, the end of the war,” Trump wrote after the call, adding that he informed Zelensky about this on a second call, which also included other world leaders.
He added: “Only the terms between the two parties will be negotiated between the two parties because they know the details of the negotiation that others will be aware of.”
Zelensky said the negotiation process “must involve U.S. and European representatives at the appropriate level.”
“What is crucial for all of us is that the United States has no distance from negotiations and the pursuit of peace, because the only one who benefits from Putin,” he explained.
Trump said at an event at the White House later that day that the United States will not get rid of the brokerage conversation between Russia and Ukraine, but there is a “red line” in his mind when he will stop pushing them towards them.
He also denied that the United States is withdrawing from its negotiating role.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States will move further away from negotiations as he is increasingly frustrated by the lack of peaceful developments in Moscow and Kiev.
When asked about his belief in Russia, he said he thought Putin had enough war to hope it would end.
Meanwhile, Putin – his phone call with Trump also spoke about the potential of a ceasefire when he described his “candal, informative and constructive” visit to Sochi at a music school.
“We have reached an agreement with the US president, and Russia will provide and prepare to cooperate with Ukraine to prepare a memorandum of possible future peace agreements,” he said.
He added that this would define “many posts”, including “a timeline for the settlement principles and conclusions to reach a peace agreement…including a possible ceasefire within a certain period of time and if relevant agreements are reached”.
Yury Ushakov, aide to the Russian President, said there was no discussion of the ceasefire schedule…although Trump certainly emphasized his interest in reaching one or another as soon as possible”.
Zelensky held a second call with Trump after the U.S. president spoke with Putin, who also included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and leaders from France, Italy, Germany and Finland.
Von der Leyen said: “I want to thank President Trump for his unremitting efforts to make a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Pope Leo’s proposal to preside over potential peace talks is a welcome gesture by the United States and other leaders in the call and “actively judge.”
Earlier this month, the new pope provided the Vatican with a possible venue for peace talks, after Putin rejected Zelensky’s proposal to negotiate face-to-face in Türkiye.
Kiev had previously said Putin’s comments said he hoped peace was hollow.
“Putin wants war,” said Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to the Ukrainian president. The largest drone attack since the full invasion start.
Ukraine says at least 10 people have died in Russia’s strike in recent days – including Nine people attacked On a civilian minibus in northeastern Ukraine. Russia said it also intercepted Ukrainian drones.
Strike on the bus It happened just a few hours later Russia and Ukraine hold their first face-to-face More than three years of talks. Agree to the prisoner exchange, but there is no commitment to the ceasefire.
If Putin was there, Trump had proposed to attend the talks in Türkiye, but the Russian president refused to attend.
Russia has previously announced a ceasefire – but only a temporary ceasefire. It is announced as May 8-11 – Aligned with the victory celebration to commemorate the end of World War II – But Kiev will not sign it, saying Putin cannot be trusted and needs an immediate ceasefire for 30 days.
The Kremlin announced a similar 30-hour truce during Easter, but they accused each other of hundreds of illegal acts despite both reporting a decline in combat.
Russia and Ukraine have been in war since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
