President Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday with the goal of addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned that the call is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, coinciding with the first in-person discussions between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul since the invasion began in 2022.
“The main topic will be to stop the ‘bloodbath,’ which results in the deaths of over 5,000 soldiers from both sides on average, and to halt trade,” Trump stated.
He added that afterward, he plans to talk to Ukrainian President Zelensky, as well as various NATO leaders, expressing hope that a ceasefire could be achieved.
As of now, Moscow hasn’t commented on the upcoming call. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that a potential meeting between Putin and Zelensky could happen if progress towards peace is made.
During the recent talks in Istanbul, both parties concurred to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, but, overall, the meeting did not effectively establish a pathway toward a larger peace agreement.
Reports suggest that the Russian side requested that Ukrainian forces withdraw from contested areas including Donetsk, Luhansk, Herson, and Zaporisia before any ceasefire could be reached.
Following disputed referendums in 2022, Russia annexed parts of Ukraine, yet Russian forces struggle to fully control the territories, and it remains uncertain whether Ukraine, which asserts its claim to the land, is open to withdrawal.
Additionally, the Kremlin has indicated that for a comprehensive peace deal, Ukraine would need to adopt a neutral position, forgoing NATO membership and acknowledging Russian claims over contested territories including Crimea.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi mentioned that the Russian demands discussed in Istanbul were unacceptable to them.
In a recent interview, Trump stated that if no agreement is reached soon, he is prepared to exert pressure on Russia through measures like lowering oil prices and imposing new sanctions, suggesting that Russia is currently facing economic difficulties.
“We’ll see what transpires… They’re having a rough time economically, and that’s going to hit them hard,” Trump said.
“I enjoy a solid relationship with Putin. I believe we can come to an arrangement. It seems like we’re often reducing our discussions to secondary matters, so I’m confident we’ll likely set up this call,” he added.
