In a dramatic bid to broker peace, US President Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to discuss an urgent Ukraine ceasefire.
Direct Talks Scheduled
Trump said the call with Putin will take place at 10:00 EDT (14:00 GMT), followed by conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several NATO leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations for the call are underway, adding that the two leaders have discussed the war before but now aim to explore a ceasefire and a potential in-person summit.
First Face-to-Face Talks in Three Years
The announcement follows recent peace talks in Istanbul — the first direct meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in over three years. Though the talks didn’t yield a breakthrough, both sides agreed to a prisoner swap. Trump had offered to attend the Istanbul talks if Putin also participated, but the Russian leader declined.
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Mixed Signals from Moscow
While the Kremlin welcomed US mediation through earlier calls between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, progress remains slow. Russia reportedly made new demands in the Istanbul meeting, including that Ukraine withdraw troops from large parts of its own territory in exchange for a ceasefire — a condition Kyiv rejected.
Violence Undermines Peace Hopes
Just hours after the talks, a Russian drone reportedly struck a passenger bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region, killing nine civilians. President Zelensky condemned the attack and demanded tougher sanctions on Moscow. Russia claimed the target was a military staging area.
Global Pressure for Ceasefire
Trump has expressed optimism that Monday’s call could lead to a turning point. NATO leaders continue to urge a 30-day ceasefire as the humanitarian toll grows. Trump, emphasizing trade and diplomacy as tools of peace, hopes his direct engagement can prevent further bloodshed in Eastern Europe.
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