Trump Promotes Bilateral Ceasefire Negotiations After Call with Putin

Washington, DC/Moscow:

In the wake of a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform that negotiations for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine are imminent.

Trump characterized his dialogue with Putin as “very well,” highlighting the importance of these negotiations as a step toward concluding the conflict. He noted that the specifics of the bilateral talks will be determined by the involved parties, who are more attuned to the details than anyone else.

“After the Call with Putin, Working with Europe”

Shortly after speaking with Putin, Trump participated in a conference call with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who shared insights about Ukrainian President Zelensky as well as other European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz. Trump mentioned that the Vatican, represented by the Pope, has expressed interest in facilitating the negotiations.

Praising Putin, Trump stated, “the tone and spirit of the conversation were amazing.”

“Endless Trade Opportunities Between Russia and the US”

Trump, who has frequently emphasized the link between trade and geopolitics, pointed out that Russia is eager to engage in substantial trade with the US once the conflict concludes. He argued that this could pave the way for significant job creation and wealth generation in Russia.

He referred to the US-Russia trade potential as “unlimited” and reiterated that Ukraine could greatly benefit from trade opportunities during its rebuilding phase.

“Putin Says it is the Right Path”

Putin described his exchange with Trump as “useful,” acknowledging that recent negotiations in Istanbul—which marked the first face-to-face meeting between Ukrainian and Russian representatives since the war began—might help steer the global dialogue towards peace. However, he urged Ukraine’s Zelensky to consider a “compromise” for peace to be realized.

The Russian president reiterated Moscow’s readiness to collaborate with Kyiv, alluding to a “Memorandum” that may serve as a precursor to a peace agreement. He expressed gratitude towards their US counterparts for backing the revival of in-person discussions, emphasizing Russia’s willingness to work alongside the Ukrainian side regarding future peace initiatives.