Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. He said the purpose of the call is to try and stop the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump shared the update on Truth Social and said his aim is to help end the violence between the two nations.
Trump also plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the call with Putin. In addition, he will talk with several NATO representatives. He hopes these discussions can lead to a ceasefire and bring the fighting to a halt. The move comes as Trump continues to promote his campaign message of ending global conflicts through direct talks.
This announcement comes shortly after a round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia failed. Those discussions ended without agreement. Russia asked Ukraine to withdraw from four areas it currently occupies. Ukraine refused and demanded a full ceasefire without conditions. The talks were held just a day before Trump made his public statement.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also been working to find a solution. On Saturday, he spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A State Department spokesperson said they discussed possible paths to peace. These efforts are part of ongoing U.S. attempts to encourage both sides to come to the table and stop the war.
Despite the breakdown of talks, Ukraine and Russia did agree on a prisoner swap. Each side released 500 prisoners, making it the largest exchange since the war began in 2022. Some observers say this is a small sign of progress, although the overall situation remains tense.
Ukraine and its allies recently called for a 30-day ceasefire. The United States supported this proposal. However, Russia turned it down. Instead, President Putin said he is open to more talks, but only in Istanbul and without any preconditions. He also refused a direct meeting with President Zelenskyy.
Violence continued shortly after the failed talks. In Ukraine’s Sumy region, Russian drones attacked a bus carrying passengers. At least nine people were killed, and seven more were injured. Local officials said most of the people on the bus were elderly women. The attack raised new concerns about civilian safety during the conflict.
Russia has not shown any signs of changing its position. Leaders in Moscow continue to demand that Ukraine accept Russian control over occupied areas. On the other hand, Ukraine remains firm in its call for a full return of all its territory and a complete ceasefire.
Trump has said that if he wins the next election, he will make ending the war in Ukraine one of his top priorities. He believes that direct conversations with leaders like Putin are the best way to make progress. His upcoming talks are being closely watched around the world.
