Trump announces immediate Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks after call with Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement marks a significant diplomatic development in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

“Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war,” Trump wrote in a social media post following the call. He added that the terms of the agreement would be decided directly between the two countries, stating, “they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”

Trump also confirmed that the Vatican has offered to host the talks, with Istanbul and Switzerland listed as alternative venues. European leaders were reportedly briefed on the discussion, which Trump described as having an “excellent” tone and spirit.

Later, during a bill signing in the Rose Garden, Trump told reporters, “some progress has been made” toward halting the fighting. “We’re trying to get that whole thing wrapped up. What a shame that it ever started in the first place,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed Trump’s sentiment, calling the discussion “frank” and “very useful.” Speaking to reporters in Sochi, Putin said the two leaders had agreed to work on a memorandum with Ukraine outlining the principles of a possible peace settlement, including a ceasefire timeline if mutual agreements are reached. However, he did not provide specific conditions or a timeline for the truce.

“The main thing for us is to eliminate the root causes of this crisis,” Putin stated. He also highlighted the recent resumption of direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul — the first in three years — as a positive sign that the peace process was “on the right track.”

This marks the third publicly acknowledged conversation between Trump and Putin since Trump’s return to the White House in January.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed he also spoke with Trump on Monday. Zelenskiy said the U.S. president encouraged direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow and that a Russian memorandum detailing ceasefire terms would soon be shared with Ukraine.

The proposed next round of talks may involve broader participation, including representatives from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Trump had previously vowed to broker a ceasefire within his first 100 days in office, a goal that was rebuffed by Moscow. As the war continues into its third year, pressure is mounting on all sides to find a diplomatic resolution.