United States President, Donald Trump, is set to hold a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, continuing his determined effort to bring an end to the war sparked by Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump, who promised during his presidential campaign to resolve the conflict within a day of taking office, has so far made limited diplomatic headway.
Last week, Russian and Ukrainian delegations held their first direct talks in nearly three years in Istanbul.
However, the negotiations concluded without any pledge toward a ceasefire. Tensions escalated as both delegations exchanged accusations, with Kyiv criticizing Moscow for dispatching a group of “low-ranking” representatives and branding the delegation a “dummy.”
Following the talks, Trump declared his intention to speak with Putin by phone to help end the “bloodbath” in Ukraine, a war that has devastated the nation and displaced millions. He also said he would initiate calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders, voicing optimism for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution.
Since assuming office in January, Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire to see hostilities cease and recently endorsed proposals for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
His approach so far has centered on ramping up pressure on Ukraine while largely refraining from direct criticism of Putin.
Both Washington and Moscow have previously acknowledged the importance of a Trump-Putin meeting concerning the ongoing conflict.
Trump himself argued that a real breakthrough would only come when he and Putin meet face-to-face, stating that “nothing’s going to happen” without it.
Tensions and Sanctions on the Table
The Istanbul negotiations, which included U.S. officials, led to a mutual agreement for the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side and a general discussion of potential truce terms. However, no binding agreement emerged.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, described the logical next step as a direct meeting between Zelensky and Putin.
The Kremlin acknowledged the suggestion but emphasized that such a summit could only happen if “certain results” were achieved in preliminary talks.
Meanwhile, Western allies have criticized Russia for ignoring calls for peace and are now urging the imposition of new sanctions.
On Sunday, leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy held a joint call with Trump in preparation for his discussion with Putin.
“Looking ahead to President Trump’s call with President Putin tomorrow, the leaders discussed the need for an unconditional ceasefire and for President Putin to take peace talks seriously,” said a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“They also discussed the use of sanctions if Russia failed to engage seriously in a ceasefire and peace talks,” the spokesperson added.
Zelensky met U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican following Pope Leo’s inaugural mass, where they also touched on sanctions and the state of the battlefield.
“We discussed the talks in Istanbul, where the Russians sent a low-level delegation with no decision-making powers,” Zelensky posted on Telegram.
“We also touched on the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defence cooperation, the situation on the battlefield and the future exchange of prisoners.”
A senior aide in Zelensky’s office, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed that preparations for Trump’s Monday call with Putin were also discussed.
Security, Diplomacy, and Deep Divides
This marks the first face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Vance since their intense Oval Office exchange in February, where Vance accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful” to Trump. During that meeting, Trump told Zelensky he lacked leverage in negotiations with Russia and should show more gratitude.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported a record number of Russian drone strikes overnight, including attacks in the capital, Kyiv, where a woman was killed. In Kherson, another civilian was killed after strikes hit a train station, homes, and vehicles.
Speaking with Russian state television on Sunday, Putin reiterated Moscow’s goals, saying the Kremlin seeks to “eliminate the causes that triggered this crisis, create the conditions for a lasting peace and guarantee Russia’s security.”
Russia’s claims of addressing the “root causes” of the war often refer to long-standing grievances with Kyiv and Western powers.
These include calls to demilitarize Ukraine, defend Russian-speaking populations in the east, stop NATO’s growth, and block Ukraine’s tilt toward the West.
However, Kyiv and its allies see Russia’s invasion as an unjustified and aggressive land grab rooted in imperial ambitions.