Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin to help stop the Ukraine bloodbath. The scheduled call is set for 10:00 EDT on Monday. Trump also plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders shortly afterward.
Trump hopes the discussions will lead to an immediate ceasefire and potentially end the ongoing war. In his words, the conflict “should have never happened,” and now must end without delay. The former and current US president stated he would personally engage in talks if Putin agrees to meet.
Meanwhile, Russia’s demands remain firm. On Sunday, Vladimir Putin repeated that any peace deal must address the crisis’s root causes. He also insisted the agreement must ensure Russia’s long-term security.
The Istanbul talks on Friday marked the first in-person meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials in over three years. Although no major progress was made, both sides expressed openness to continued discussions.
Trump offered to join the Istanbul negotiations, but Putin declined to attend. Kremlin officials confirmed preparations for Monday’s call are in motion. A Kremlin spokesperson said discussions between the two leaders are “in the works.”
European leaders continue pushing for a 30-day ceasefire. Yet Moscow appears to be moving slower than Trump had hoped. Over the weekend, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. During the call, Moscow welcomed US efforts to mediate.
Following the Istanbul talks, Ukraine restated its demand for a complete and unconditional ceasefire. However, a Ukrainian official revealed that Russia issued new, unacceptable conditions. These included a request for Ukraine to withdraw from key areas of its own territory.
Shortly after the talks, a Russian drone struck a civilian bus in Sumy, killing nine people. President Zelensky condemned the attack as a deliberate killing of civilians. Ukrainian forces responded by destroying 88 drones and diverting 128 others.
Despite the violence, Russia’s chief delegate, Vladimir Medinsky, expressed satisfaction with the dialogue. He said Russia remains ready to continue contact with Ukraine.
Still, tensions remain high. On Sunday, Ukrainian air defense faced another wave of drone attacks. One woman was killed in Kyiv, further fueling calls for increased sanctions on Russia.
Trump to call Putin to stop Ukraine bloodbath remains the central theme of the unfolding diplomatic effort. All eyes now turn to Monday’s high-stakes phone calls.
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