President Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Putin on Monday, as efforts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine continue.
“I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 a.m.,” Trump said on Saturday, May 17. He stated the call will focus on “stopping the ‘bloodbath’ that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade.”
Trump added that after the call with Putin, he will then speak separately with the Ukrainian President, as well as members of NATO.
“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a cease-fire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end, God bless us all,” Trump concluded.
Trump’s announcement follows a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday, where they held direct peace talks. Neither Zelensky nor Putin attended the summit. Despite speculation about a potential face-to-face meeting between the two leaders—which Zelensky had advocated for, under certain conditions—it did not occur. Putin declined Zelensky’s invitation for an in-person meeting in Turkey and did not join the Russian delegation. Meanwhile, Zelensky traveled to Ankara, the Turkish capital.
Europe and the U.S. have previously suggested a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine accepted. However, Putin has refused to agree to the proposal unless his demands are met.
A conversation between Trump and Putin has been anticipated. The U.S. President previously stated: “Nothing is going to happen until Putin and I get together.”
On Friday, the Kremlin echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that communication between Trump and Putin is “extremely important” for resolving the conflict.
“Contacts between President Putin and Trump are extremely important in the context of the Ukrainian settlement,” Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov reportedly said. “Of course, we agree with this thesis. This significance is difficult to overestimate.”
Although Trump had promised a new era of relations between Russia and Ukraine during his second term, his interactions with Zelensky initially faced challenges, with tensions escalating. The two had a tense exchange in February.
“You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump told Zelensky during the meeting.
The two leaders seem to have reconciled since then, engaging in a brief but significant in-person meeting—their first since the Oval Office clash—before Pope Francis’ funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on April 26.
The meeting was described as “very symbolic” with “the potential to become historic.”
“We discussed a lot one-on-one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional cease-fire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said.
After the meeting, Zelensky expressed doubt on social media about the Russian leader’s desire to end the war in Ukraine, and hinted at potential sanctions against Russia.
Still, Trump believes he can facilitate a peace agreement between the two nations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Istanbul earlier in the week to allow U.S. officials to hold separate discussions with Ukrainian and Turkish delegates. Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov by phone on Saturday.
“The comprehensive peace plan proposed by the United States outlines the best way forward,” the State Department stated. “The Secretary emphasized President Trump’s call for an immediate cease-fire and an end to the violence.”