Trump-Putin Call Signals Ceasefire Hopes as Russia Expresses Willingness to Negotiate
| 2025-05-20
Trump and Putin discussed Ukraine ceasefire amid renewed diplomatic push.
President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin hold extended talks on Ukraine war, with Moscow signalling readiness for peace amid growing global pressure.
United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for over two hours on Monday, raising hopes of a breakthrough in efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The call follows growing frustration from President Trump over the prolonged conflict and comes alongside renewed engagement with NATO allies and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking after the call, President Putin stated that Moscow was prepared to work towards a peaceful settlement with Ukraine. He described the conversation as “frank and meaningful”, adding that Russia supported a diplomatic resolution based on mutual compromise.
While the White House has not yet released a full account of the call, President Trump had earlier indicated that he aimed to achieve a ceasefire, describing Monday as a “productive day” for diplomacy.
Russia Signals Openness to Peace Accord
Putin said that the Kremlin was ready to propose a memorandum defining key positions for a potential peace agreement with Ukraine. “We have agreed with the President of the United States that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side,” Putin told reporters, according to Russian media.
He emphasised the importance of agreeing on the terms and duration of a ceasefire as part of any future settlement. While the statement suggested a more conciliatory tone, Ukraine and its Western allies have continued to push for an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire—something Moscow has not accepted.
The latest round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, held in Istanbul last week, ended without agreement. However, both sides committed to a large-scale prisoner exchange, with 1,000 prisoners expected to be released by each country in the coming days.
Trump’s Direct Diplomatic Approach
President Trump has sought to personally lead the renewed push for a ceasefire, positioning himself as a mediator capable of ending a war that began in February 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Vice President JD Vance said on Monday that the President is open to abandoning mediation efforts if Moscow does not demonstrate a serious interest in negotiation.
“We’re more than open to walking away,” Vance told reporters. “We want to see outcomes. The United States is not going to spin its wheels here.”
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff added: “His sensibilities are that he’s got to get on the phone with President Putin, and that is going to clear up some of the logjam.”
While returning from a trip to the Middle East on Friday, President Trump remarked that Russia had skipped the Istanbul talks because “Trump wasn’t there.” He added, “He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it—or maybe not. At least we’ll know.”
Allied Support and European Concerns
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, spoke with Trump on Sunday about the Ukraine situation. While no specific details were released, the calls indicate close coordination ahead of Trump’s conversation with Putin.
Following the Trump-Putin talks, Macron said on X (formerly Twitter) that Russia must accept the ceasefire proposal supported by Ukraine and Europe.
Despite renewed diplomacy, some Western officials have voiced concern that Trump’s rapport with Putin might result in a peace deal that could disadvantage Ukraine.
Former US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who resigned last month, criticised what she described as pressure on Kyiv to concede. “Peace at any price is not peace at all,” she said. “It’s appeasement, and as we know from history, appeasement only leads to more war.”
Ground Situation Remains Tense
Amid the diplomacy, the conflict on the ground has intensified. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched its largest drone attack of the war over the weekend, targeting the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions with 273 drones.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday to discuss developments. He said Ukraine remained committed to “real diplomacy” and criticised Moscow for sending low-level representatives to the Istanbul negotiations.
“We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defence cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoner exchange,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war.”
A War with Global Implications
The war began in February 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukraine, following years of escalating tensions after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its support for separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.
Russia has described its actions as a “special military operation” aimed at protecting Russian-speaking populations and neutralising threats from NATO. The United States and its allies have condemned the invasion as an unprovoked act of aggression, sparking the largest conflict in Europe since World War Two.
In response, Western governments imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Russia. These included efforts to restrict Moscow’s oil revenue while attempting to minimise global inflation.
President Trump’s intervention now represents a high-stakes diplomatic gamble. While talks with Putin may offer a new path forward, many in Europe and Ukraine remain cautious about the outcome and its long-term impact on regional security.
Johnson & Johnson Sets Record for Largest Awareness Ribbon Mosaic on IBD Day
Johnson & Johnson sets Guinness World Record with largest ribbon mosaic to raise global awareness of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) on World IBD Day.
|2025-05-19
Nvidia Expands AI Access with Global GPU Cloud Marketplace
Nvidia launches DGX Cloud Lepton, a GPU marketplace connecting AI developers with global cloud providers, expanding access beyond major platforms.
|2025-05-19
Joe Biden Diagnosed with Aggressive Prostate Cancer; Modi Sends Recovery Wishes
Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes him a quick recovery.
|2025-05-19
Russia’s GRU Targeted Elon Musk Using Sex and Drugs, Ex-FBI Agent Claims
A former FBI counterintelligence agent alleges Russian spies exploited Elon Musk’s lifestyle to gain influence, with Russian President Putin’s reported approval.
|2025-05-18
Adani Defence and Sparton to Build India’s First Indigenous Sonobuoys
Adani Defence teams up with US firm Sparton to manufacture India’s first indigenous sonobuoy systems, boosting anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
|2025-05-18