U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday as part of renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Despite promising during his campaign to end the conflict within a day of taking office, Trump’s diplomatic efforts have so far fallen short. Recent talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations—attended by U.S. officials—ended without a ceasefire agreement. Ukraine criticized Russia for sending low-level negotiators with no real authority.
Following the talks, Trump announced plans to speak with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He expressed hope that a ceasefire could be achieved soon, calling the war a “bloodbath.”
Since assuming office in January, Trump has pushed for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, largely avoiding direct criticism of Putin. Both Washington and Moscow have emphasized the need for a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders to move peace talks forward.
At the Istanbul talks, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner exchange of 1,000 detainees each and to continue discussing a possible truce. However, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stressed that a leaders’ summit between Putin and Zelensky is necessary. The Kremlin has said it is open to such a meeting if progress is made in negotiations.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Western allies, including leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy, held a joint call with Trump urging Putin to engage seriously in peace talks or face further sanctions. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office reiterated the need for an unconditional ceasefire.
Zelensky met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Rome after Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass on Sunday, where they discussed the ongoing talks, sanctions, military cooperation, and another prisoner swap. A senior Ukrainian official confirmed the Trump-Putin call was also on their agenda.
This follows a tense February exchange at the White House, where Vance accused Zelensky of disrespecting Trump during peace discussions. Trump reportedly told Zelensky he lacked leverage in negotiations with Moscow.
Over the weekend, Russia launched a record number of drone attacks across Ukraine, killing at least two people, including one in Kyiv and another in Kherson.
In a separate interview, Putin stated that Russia aims to resolve the “root causes” of the war, referring to grievances such as NATO expansion, Ukraine’s Western alignment, and claims of protecting Russian speakers—narratives Ukraine and its allies dismiss as cover for an illegal land grab.
