Donald Trump has announced plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in an effort to halt what he described as the ongoing “bloodbath” in Ukraine. The call, scheduled for 10:00 EDT (14:00 GMT), will be followed by separate conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders of several NATO countries.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed hope that the talks would lead to a ceasefire and the beginning of the end of the war, which he called “a very violent war, a war that should have never happened.”
This diplomatic push follows the first face-to-face meeting in over three years between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on Friday. While a prisoner swap was agreed upon, no significant progress was made toward ending the war. Trump had offered to attend the Istanbul talks if Putin joined in person, but the Russian leader declined.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that preparations for the Trump-Putin call were underway, marking a potentially significant step in Trump’s efforts to mediate the conflict. The two leaders have previously discussed the war over the phone.
Meanwhile, Moscow has responded cautiously. During a separate weekend call, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Russia welcomed American efforts at mediation, though progress has been slow.
Ukraine has reiterated its demand for a full and unconditional ceasefire. However, a Ukrainian official said Russia’s latest demands—including Kyiv’s withdrawal from large parts of its own territory—were “unacceptable.”
Following the Istanbul talks, the situation on the ground remained tense. A Russian drone strike on a passenger bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region killed nine civilians, prompting Zelensky to call for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
As the war enters its fourth year, Trump’s diplomatic moves suggest he sees himself as a key player in ending one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts in recent history.
