Washington/Moscow: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are set to commence "immediately" following a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump described the two-hour conversation as highly productive and claimed that Putin expressed interest in substantial trade relations with the U.S. once the war ends, which Trump referred to as a “catastrophic bloodbath.”
Following the call, Trump said he personally informed key international leaders—including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and even the Pope—that the peace process is set to begin. Trump noted the Vatican had expressed willingness to host the negotiations.
Meanwhile, President Putin issued a separate statement ahead of Trump’s announcement, indicating that Russia is open to a ceasefire “if the right agreements are reached.” However, he did not elaborate on the specifics of these terms. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov or lead negotiator Vladimir Ushakov is expected to provide further details.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin proposed drafting a memorandum that would define the core principles, timeline, and framework for a potential peace deal, including a temporary ceasefire.
Historically, Moscow has tied any peace to addressing what it describes as the underlying causes of the conflict—Ukraine’s Western ambitions, NATO’s expansion, alleged discrimination against Russian-speaking communities in Ukraine, and the so-called "denazification" of the country.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented that President Trump is determined to push for an end to the war and has grown increasingly frustrated with both sides. “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I together,” Trump told reporters last week, emphasizing his direct engagement with the Russian leader.
Vice President JD Vance echoed these sentiments, saying Trump plans to confront Putin to determine whether he is serious about ending the war. “If it becomes clear there’s no real intent for peace, we may walk away from mediation,” Vance stated.
Despite Putin’s suggestion for direct talks, he declined Zelenskyy's recent offer to meet in Istanbul, opting instead to send lower-level officials.
Following the Istanbul meeting, In a message posted on Telegram, Zelenskyy said, “The May 15–16 meetings showed the world that Ukraine is ready for peace. Now, pressure must be placed on Russia to do the same.” One concrete outcome from the talks was an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side—a process already underway, according to Ukraine's Security Service.
