U.S. President Donald Trump initiated a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on issues related to peaceful resolution in Ukraine. This was reported by Reuters. According to the information, the discussions addressed possible steps towards ending the conflict, and they are currently ongoing. Sources report that this topic is one of the main items on the agenda for both parties.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Preparation for Negotiations and Reactions from Political Figures
Before the phone call began, White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated that Trump plans to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after his conversation with Putin. She emphasized that “the President has made it clear that his goal is to see a ceasefire and an end to this conflict, and he is tired and frustrated with both sides of the conflict.”
Prior to this, several sources reported that Trump had discussions with Zelensky before the phone call with Putin, indicating an attempt to coordinate actions towards finding peace. At the same time, U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance noted that Washington recognizes a deadlock in the process of ending the war.
“We understand that a certain deadlock has arisen. And I think the President will tell President Putin: ‘Are you serious? Are you sincere about this? Frankly, I think President Putin doesn’t quite know how to exit the war,'” Vance said.
According to reports, Trump planned to conduct phone negotiations after a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul, which was the first of its kind since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. The focus of these calls was on ending the bloodshed, and Trump expressed hope that the war would conclude and the “bloodshed” would stop, which he believes is necessary to halt the brutal fighting.
Negotiations in Istanbul and Prospects for Peace
The Istanbul negotiations, which involved individual representatives from both sides and American officials, did not lead to significant progress on the issue of ending the war. However, an agreement was reached for the exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war, which became the only substantial outcome of these meetings. Meanwhile, over the weekend, Russian forces launched further strikes on Ukraine, using drones in the most extensive bombardments in recent times, indicating Russia’s lack of intent to reduce the intensity of hostilities.
Russian representatives in Istanbul put forth extremely tough demands, including calling for Ukrainian forces to withdraw from occupied areas, which Kyiv and its Western allies rejected. These conditions were similar to those proposed in the spring of 2022 and remain unacceptable to the Ukrainian side. Ukraine insists on sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting any ultimatums.
Since taking office, Trump has made ending the war in Ukraine one of the priorities of his foreign policy. However, given the continuation of active hostilities and Moscow’s refusal to agree to a 30-day ceasefire, U.S. efforts have faced serious challenges. After the initial tense months in relations with Kyiv, the American administration’s focus shifted to Russia’s behavior, with public statements becoming increasingly critical.
Recent days have been marked by Putin’s refusal to meet with Zelensky in Turkey, highlighting the difficulty of finding a compromise. At the same time, the Ukrainian leader is seeking support from other international institutions, including the Vatican, and is negotiating with American officials regarding further steps in the search for peace.