Trump Secures Promise of Talks, But No Ukraine Ceasefire from Putin

Trump Claims Progress on Peace Talks with Putin, But No Ukraine Ceasefire Yet

Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" begin peace talks following a phone call with Vladimir Putin on Monday, though the Russian president rejected Trump’s appeal for an unconditional ceasefire.

Trump characterized the two-hour conversation as a breakthrough in his effort to fulfill a campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours. However, Putin struck a more cautious tone, expressing willingness to engage Kyiv on a potential peace framework, but emphasizing the need for mutual compromises.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has recently mended ties with Trump after a tense Oval Office exchange, warned the U.S. leader in a separate call not to negotiate over Ukraine without its involvement.

Trump has leaned heavily on his personal rapport with Putin to push for a resolution, despite growing signs of frustration over Moscow’s reluctance to commit. “I believe it went very well,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War.” He later told reporters he believed Putin was open to a truce: “If I thought President Putin didn’t want to get this over with, I wouldn’t even be talking about it.”

While Trump recently proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire—which Kyiv accepted—Putin has so far declined, drawing criticism from Western allies. Still, the Russian leader called the conversation “very informative and very open,” and suggested Russia was ready to discuss a peace memorandum outlining key negotiating positions, albeit with unspecified compromises.

Trump has largely avoided criticizing Putin, focusing instead on re-engaging Moscow—a stance that has raised concerns in Kyiv and among Western leaders. He insists that only a direct, face-to-face meeting with Putin can end the war, though the Kremlin declined Trump’s proposal for talks in Istanbul last week.

Zelensky, who spoke with Trump both before and after the Putin call, urged him to ramp up sanctions if Russia refuses to agree to a ceasefire. He also dismissed any suggestion of ceding Ukrainian-held territory in the east and south—terms reportedly raised by Moscow.

Following the call, Trump briefed several European leaders, including EC President Ursula von der Leyen and the heads of France, Germany, Italy, and Finland. The Vatican has been floated as a potential venue for future peace talks, with Pope Leo XIV offering to host.

European leaders have echoed Kyiv’s call for tougher sanctions on Moscow if it fails to act. But Trump has hinted at a different approach, suggesting Russia could pursue “largescale TRADE with the United States” once the “catastrophic bloodbath” ends.

Despite talk of diplomacy, fighting on the ground continued. Russia claimed new gains in the eastern Sumy and Donetsk regions, and Ukraine reported downing 76 of 112 Russian drones launched overnight.