The US President, Donald Trump, is set to hold separate phone calls on Monday with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump will also speak with officials from NATO, in a push to reach a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. He also discussed the situation in Ukraine with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
Trump-Putin Call
On Saturday, Trump said he would have a phone conversation with Putin, hoping it would bring the fighting in Ukraine to an end. “I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 a.m.” he wrote on Truth Social. The US President said that the call would focus on “stopping the bloodbath that is killing, on average, more than 5000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade.”
Moreover, Trump suggested he would speak with Zelensky and members of NATO to discuss a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. “I will then be speaking to President Zelensky of Ukraine and then, with President Zelensky, various members of NATO,” he said.
Trump expressed hope that these calls would yield positive results that could bring the war to an end. “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end,” the US President noted.
Istanbul Talks
Trump’s proposal came after Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks since the early days of war in Türkiye. On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul, after Putin declined an in-person meeting with Zelensky. The talks lasted for less than two hours without agreeing on a ceasefire.
However, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, with expectations the swap could take effect as early as this week, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Commenting on Russia-Ukraine direct talks, Trump said that Putin skipped the meeting because Trump himself was not there. “Look, nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together, OK? He wasn’t going if I wasn’t there,” the US President told reporters aboard Air Force One as he concluded his Gulf tour.
“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it or maybe not. At least we’ll know. And if we don’t solve it, it’ll be very interesting,” he added.
Intensified Efforts
In preparation for Monday calls, the Ukrainian President met with several officials on Sunday. Zelensky met with US Vice President, JD Vance, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in Rome, intensifying his efforts before the calls.
In a post on X, Zelensky said their discussions touched upon the Istanbul talks, underscoring that Kyiv is engaged in ‘real diplomacy” to reach a ceasefire. “We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange,” he wrote.
The Ukrainian President said that Russia sent a low-level delegation of non-decisionmakers. “Pressure needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war,” Zelensky said.
Engaging European Allies
Ahead of the anticipated calls, European leaders spoke with Trump. On Sunday, the leaders of Germany, France, Britain and Italy said they had a phone conversation with the US President about the situation in Ukraine and his upcoming call with Putin.
“Looking ahead to President Trump’s call with President Putin tomorrow, the leaders discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously. They also discussed the use of sanctions if Russia failed to engage seriously in a ceasefire and peace talks,” the UK government said in a statement.
Moreover, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, commented on the upcoming Trump-Putin call. “President Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe,” Macron posted on X.
