Donald Trump to Hold Talks with Russia’s Putin Today in Effort to End Ukraine “Bloodbath”
Washington:
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday as part of his ongoing initiative to end the war triggered by Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Trump, who had promised during his election campaign to stop the conflict within a day of taking office, has made little headway so far in his peace efforts.Last week, Russian and Ukrainian delegations met for direct negotiations in Istanbul—their first in nearly three years—but the talks concluded without any agreement on a ceasefire.Tensions remained high as both parties exchanged harsh words, with Ukraine accusing Russia of sending a delegation composed of minor officials.Following the failed talks, Trump declared that he would hold a phone conversation with Putin in an attempt to bring an end to the ongoing “bloodbath” in Ukraine, which has devastated much of the nation and forced millions to flee.
Trump also stated that he plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO leaders, expressing optimism that a “ceasefire will take place and this very violent war… will end.”Since assuming office in January, Trump has consistently emphasized his desire to see the conflict resolved and has recently supported calls for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.Up to now, his approach has largely involved increasing pressure on Ukraine while refraining from criticizing Putin.Both Moscow and Washington have previously highlighted the importance of a Trump-Putin meeting to address the ongoing war.
The U.S. president has also insisted that “nothing’s going to happen” regarding the conflict until he meets with Putin in person.
Push for Sanctions
During last week’s talks in Istanbul — which included U.S. officials — Russia and Ukraine agreed to a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners and shared proposals for a possible truce, though no firm agreements were made.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister and lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said the next step should be a direct meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky. The Kremlin acknowledged the suggestion, stating such a meeting could occur only after concrete progress is made between both sides.
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Following the talks, Ukraine’s Western allies accused Putin of ignoring ceasefire appeals and pushed for new sanctions on Russia. On Sunday, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Italy held a call with Trump, urging him to press Putin for an unconditional ceasefire and to treat peace negotiations seriously. They also discussed potential sanctions should Russia fail to cooperate.
Ukrainian President Zelensky met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance after Pope Leo’s inaugural mass in the Vatican, where they also discussed sanctions, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield conditions, and a future prisoner exchange.A senior Ukrainian official confirmed that preparations for Monday’s phone call between Trump and Putin were also reviewed.
Root Causes
This marked the first meeting between Zelensky and Vance since their tense exchange in Washington in February, during which Vance accused Zelensky of showing disrespect to Trump. Trump, in turn, told Zelensky to be more appreciative and claimed Ukraine had no leverage in negotiations.
Meanwhile, Russia launched its largest drone attack to date, hitting several regions including Kyiv, where a woman was killed. Another fatality occurred in Kherson, where a railway station and homes were struck.
In a televised interview, Putin reiterated that Russia’s objective is to address the "root causes" of the conflict, establish lasting peace, and ensure national security — though he did not elaborate. These so-called causes often include aims such as “de-Nazifying” and demilitarizing Ukraine, defending Russian-speaking communities, resisting NATO’s eastward expansion, and stopping Ukraine’s Western integration.
Kyiv and its allies, however, view Russia’s actions as a blatant imperial-style invasion.
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