After a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a promising step towards peace has emerged with both nations agreeing to "immediately" commence ceasefire negotiations in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump described the call as highly constructive and emphasized that the path to peace must be defined by both Russia and Ukraine.
Putin has expressed willingness to collaborate on a "memorandum on a possible future peace agreement," although he did not address the calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire advocated by the U.S. and European nations. Following this conversation, Trump reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who voiced that this moment is pivotal, asserting that Ukraine must be included in all discussions regarding its future.
Despite the hopeful sentiment from Trump and Putin, Zelensky reiterated the necessity of an "unconditional ceasefire" and stipulated that stronger sanctions may be needed if Russia remains inflexible. He highlighted the importance of involving U.S. and European representatives in the negotiations, stressing that the U.S. must remain engaged to prevent Putin from gaining the upper hand.
In a White House appearance shortly after these calls, Trump affirmed the U.S. would continue to uphold its role as mediator in the negotiations, although he admitted to harboring certain limits regarding his intervention efforts. He indicated that he believes Putin has had enough of the conflict and is inclined to seek resolution.
Putin's conversation with Trump occurred during his visit to a music school in Sochi and was characterized as "frank and constructive." He confirmed that an agreement to explore peace avenues would include discussions around ceasefire conditions, although specific timelines were not established, according to Yury Ushakov, an aide to Putin.
Zelensky extended gratitude to Trump for his efforts and spoke about the significance of maintaining U.S. involvement in the peace process. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned that Pope Leo's offer to host potential peace talks had been positively received by the involved leaders.
Nevertheless, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical of Putin's intentions, with a top aide to Zelensky accusing the Russian leader of wanting war, especially following recent deadly drone attacks in Ukraine, resulting in the loss of multiple lives.
Previously, Russia declared temporary ceasefires that were perceived as insufficient and untrustworthy by Ukraine. Since February 2022, the two nations have been embroiled in this conflict, with the world watching as negotiations could mark a crucial turning point in the ongoing strife.
