Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to engage in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside leaders from NATO countries, to halt the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The communication is aimed at stopping what Trump described as the ‘bloodbath’ in the region.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations are underway for the scheduled call on Monday. This move by Trump follows unsuccessful direct discussions between Russia and Ukraine, which failed to bring about a ceasefire. Russian President Putin rejected Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting in Turkey, even after suggesting alternative negotiations below the presidential level.
In a related development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Rubio, during a visit to Rome, proposed the Vatican as a potential venue for future peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, a northeastern Ukrainian town mourned the loss of nine civilians killed in a Russian drone strike on an evacuation bus.
The recent talks in Istanbul concluded without a ceasefire agreement, though both parties agreed to a significant prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners of war each. Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov indicated that the exchange could occur next week. Despite these developments, the Kremlin resisted a proposal for a temporary ceasefire as a precursor to a broader peace settlement.
Since the initiation of U.S.-brokered negotiations in March, Ukraine has sought to persuade the Trump administration of Putin’s unreliability and Kyiv’s commitment to peace. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress and threatened to withdraw U.S. involvement if tangible results are not achieved. He emphasized the necessity of a face-to-face meeting with Putin to advance peace efforts.
As Trump returned to Washington from Abu Dhabi, he mentioned the possibility of an upcoming call with Putin, expressing confidence in reaching a resolution. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy discussed the negotiation outcomes with Trump and other Western leaders, advocating for stringent sanctions against Moscow if it refuses a comprehensive ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hinted at the possibility of a future meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, contingent upon the successful execution of the prisoner swap and further agreements between the delegations. Peskov also mentioned that Moscow will present Ukraine with conditions for a ceasefire, though details and timelines remain unspecified.