UKRAINE: Trump Speaks To Putin, Talks To Begin “Immediately”

US President Trump has had a two hour conversation with Russian President Putin about the war in the Ukraine. Trump said that he believes that Putin wants peace. While he said that peace talks would begin “immediately”, it remains unclear what the next steps will be, especially as the unconditional 30-day ceasefire was not discussed between the two leaders. Trump followed the discussion by updating European leaders.

• Trump has said that the US is prepared to formulate a “memorandum on a possible future peace agreement” with the Ukraine. While Ukrainian President Zelensky wants the US to remain as one of the negotiating parties, which would also include Europe, but Trump warned there’s a red line on when he’ll walk away if there isn’t progress which he won’t reveal yet.
• Zelensky noted that this was a “defining moment”. A direct meeting with Putin was apparently discussed, according to the Kremlin.
• Putin stated after his call with Trump that their discussion had been “frank, informative and constructive” and that Russia “is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum”, which would define “principles of settlement and a timeline for concluding a possible peace agreement” and ceasefire, according to the BBC.
• Putin has previously demanded that Russia keep the territory it has gained during the three years of fighting as well as the rest of the provinces connected with these areas that Russia is yet to occupy. Trump didn’t state if this position had changed.
• In terms of sanctions, Trump thinks they could make the situation worse but that a time may come where they need to be extended, which Zelensky mentioned too.
• Talks took place between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey last Friday but Putin didn’t attend. A prisoner swap was agreed but not a ceasefire. The meeting was followed by intense Russian attacks on Ukraine.