U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately” commence ceasefire negotiations following separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While Trump described his conversation with Putin as “excellent,” Putin refrained from committing to an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict before halting hostilities.
President Zelenskyy, in a statement on social media, confirmed that he had two conversations with President Trump on the same day: one prior to Trump’s call with Putin and another involving European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, Alexander Stubb, and Ursula von der Leyen. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s readiness for a full and unconditional ceasefire, as previously supported by the United States. He emphasized the importance of not diluting this proposal and called for increased global pressure on Russia to pursue genuine peace.
Zelenskyy also expressed Ukraine’s willingness to engage in direct talks with Russia in any format that would yield results, mentioning potential venues such as Turkey, the Vatican, and Switzerland. He stressed the need for Russia to demonstrate equal readiness for effective negotiations and highlighted the importance of American and European involvement in the negotiation process to ensure a comprehensive and lasting peace.
Despite these developments, European leaders have expressed frustration over the lack of concrete commitments from Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other EU officials have agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia, emphasizing the need for decisive action.
Vice President JD Vance indicated that the United States is increasingly open to stepping back from Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations if meaningful progress isn’t achieved, reflecting growing impatience within the Trump administration.
While the initiation of talks marks a potential step forward, the absence of a clear commitment to a ceasefire and the ongoing demands from Russia present significant challenges to achieving lasting peace in the region.
