US President Donald Trump has said after a two-hour call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Russia and Ukraine will begin negotiations “quickly” for a ceasefire and the end of the war.
Describing the conversation as “very well,” Trump said the terms of peace need to be negotiated between the parties.
Despite a note of optimism from Trump, who spoke with Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky, the ceasefire and peace agreements are not visible nearby.
Putin said he was ready to work with Ukraine in a “Memorandum on the Possibility of a Future Peace Agreement,” but Zelensky said “this is a critical moment,” urging the US not to leave the talks.
In his remarks, the Russian president did not address demands from the US and European countries for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
After a one-on-one call with Trump, Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s desire for a “complete and unconditional ceasefire” and warned that if Moscow is not ready, “there must be strong sanctions.”
Zelensky, who spoke before Putin and Trump’s conversation, said he asked that decisions regarding Ukraine would not be made without his country and did not call Ukraine “the problem of principles.”
He doesn’t have any details about the “memo” but he said that if he receives something from the Russians, he “can formulate a vision accordingly.”
In writing on his truth social page, Trump added, “Russia and Ukraine will soon begin negotiations for a ceasefire, and more importantly, the end of the war,” adding that he notified Zelensky on a second call that includes other world leaders.
He added: “The terms will be negotiated between the two parties as long as possible, as we know the details of the negotiations no one else knows.”
Zelensky said the negotiation process “must involve both American and European representatives at an appropriate level.”
“For all of us, it’s important that the US does not distance itself from consultation or pursuit of peace, because it’s Putin who will benefit from it,” he explained.
Speaking at a White House event later that day, Trump said the US would not leave the mediation meeting between Russia and Ukraine, but when he stopped pushing both, he said he had a “red line” in his head.
He also denied that the US is retreating from its negotiation role.
Over the past few weeks, Trump has repeatedly warned that the US will leave negotiations as he has become increasingly irritated by the lack of development from both Moscow and Kiev in the way of peace.
When asked by Russia what he believes, he said he believes Putin has enough war and hopes to end it.
Meanwhile, Putin explained his call with Trump. He deemed it “candid, informative and constructive” by the music school when he visited the city of Sochi, but also spoke about the possibility of a ceasefire.
“We are ready to agree with the US President offered by Russia and work with Ukraine in a memorandum of understanding on the possibility of a future peace agreement,” he said.
It added that it defines “many positions” that include the principle of settlement and the timeline for entering into possible peace agreements.
Yury Ushakov, aide to the Russian president, said the ceasefire time slot “is not discussed… Trump, of course, emphasizes his interest in reaching the contract as soon as possible.”
Zelensky made his second call with Trump after the US president spoke with Putin. Putin included President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, as well as leaders from France, Italy, Germany and Finland.
“I would like to thank President Trump for his tireless efforts to bring a ceasefire to Ukraine,” von der Leyen said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Pope Leo’s offer to host potential peace talks was a welcome gesture to the United States and other leaders of the call, and was “approvedly reviewed.”
Earlier this month, the new Pope provided the Vatican as a venue for peace negotiations after Putin declined Zelensky’s offer to meet in Turkey for negotiations.
Kiev has previously said Putin’s comments have said he hopes that peace will be hollow.
“Putin wants war,” said Andri Yamak, the Ukrainian president’s top aide, after Russia launched on Sunday what he said was the biggest drone attack since the start of a full-scale invasion.
Ukraine says at least 10 people have been killed in the recent Russian strike. Russia says it has intercepted a Ukrainian drone.
The bus strike came just hours after Russia and Ukraine held their first in-person meeting in more than three years. An exchange of prisoners was agreed, but there was no commitment to a ceasefire.
If Putin was there too, Trump had offered to attend consultations in Turkey, but the Russian president refused to go.
Russia has previously declared a ceasefire, but only temporary. One has been declared from May 8th to 11th. This coincided with the victory celebration to mark the end of World War II, but Kiev did not sign up for it, saying Putin could not be trusted and that an immediate 30-day ceasefire was necessary.
The Kremlin announced a similar 30-hour truce at Easter, with both sides reporting dips in the battle, but they denounced each other for hundreds of violations.
Russia and Ukraine have been at war since Moscow began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
