U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin negotiations toward a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump, who described the conversation as having gone “very well,” said he also held a follow-up call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders to inform them of the development. “The conditions for peace will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be,” Trump said via Truth Social. “They know the details that nobody else would be aware of.”
Despite Trump’s optimism, any actual ceasefire or peace deal appears far from certain. While Putin confirmed Russia is ready to work with Ukraine on a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement,” he made no mention of the U.S. and European demand for an immediate 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
Zelensky, who described the moment as “defining,” reiterated Ukraine’s call for a “full and unconditional ceasefire.” Speaking after his own one-on-one call with Trump, he warned that if Moscow is unwilling to comply, “there must be stronger sanctions.” He also stressed that any peace process must involve both American and European representatives. “The only one who benefits from U.S. disengagement is Putin,” Zelensky said.
In his comments, Trump denied claims that the U.S. was stepping back from its role as a peace broker. “We are still at the table,” he said during a White House event, though he hinted at a “red line” in his mind on how long he would continue pushing both sides.
Putin, speaking from a music school in Sochi where he took the call, described the discussion with Trump as “frank, informative, and constructive.” He said the proposed memorandum could define key positions and principles for a peace settlement, including a timeline for a potential ceasefire, if an agreement is reached.
A second call between Trump, Zelensky, and other world leaders including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, followed the Putin conversation. Von der Leyen thanked Trump for his “tireless efforts,” and urged continued U.S. engagement in the peace process.
Meloni also noted that Pope Leo’s recent offer to host peace talks at the Vatican was welcomed by all parties, after Putin previously rejected Zelensky’s proposal to meet in Turkey.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, the world watches with cautious hope for meaningful progress toward ending the war, which has devastated Ukraine and shaken global security for more than two years.
Written By Rodney Mbua
