President Donald Trump responded positively to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent initiative to resume direct peace talks with Ukraine, calling it a major opportunity to end the war. Writing on his Truth Social account on May 11, Trump described the development as “potentially a great day for Russia and Ukraine.”
“Think of the hundreds of thousands of lives that will be saved as this endless ‘bloodbath’ hopefully comes to an end. This will be a completely new and much better world,” Trump stated. He added that he would continue working with both parties to help make the negotiations a reality, emphasizing that the United States should now focus on “rebuilding and trade.”
Trump’s remarks followed Putin’s call for Ukraine to restart peace talks in Istanbul on May 15 without preconditions. The Kremlin’s proposal coincides with growing international pressure for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12.
According to reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders have informed Trump that Ukraine is prepared to begin direct negotiations with Russia if a ceasefire agreement is reached. Trump praised this alignment, calling the upcoming week a “BIG week” for diplomacy.
While Washington officials have remained cautious in their formal responses, Trump’s public endorsement of the peace initiative signals his active involvement in the unfolding diplomatic effort. Observers note that this marks a rare moment of alignment between the Kremlin’s messaging and a senior U.S. official’s public stance.
