In a dramatic turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in an effort to bring an end to the devastating war in Ukraine. This move comes amid growing demands from European leaders for an immediate ceasefire in what has become the most brutal conflict in Europe since World War II.
The war, which began in February 2022 when Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine, has evolved into a long and bloody confrontation between Russia and Western powers. Trump, hoping to shape his legacy as a global peacemaker, has long criticized the war, calling it an unnecessary “bloodbath” and pushing for a swift resolution.
In a message shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “The subject of the call will be stopping the bloodbath that is killing over 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers each week, and also trade.” He added, “Hopefully, it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war — a war that should have never happened — will end.”
The highly anticipated call is set for 10 a.m. Eastern Time (1400 GMT) on Monday. The Kremlin confirmed preparations for the discussion are underway. Trump also stated that he will speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and various NATO leaders later that day.
The renewed diplomatic push follows a rare in-person meeting between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul last week — the first of its kind since March 2022. While Russia, under Putin’s leadership, remains firm on conditions such as Ukraine dropping its NATO ambitions and withdrawing from contested territories, European leaders and Ukraine continue to call for an unconditional ceasefire.
Tensions have escalated further after Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war over the weekend. Ukrainian intelligence also warned of a possible launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by Russia on Sunday — a claim yet to be confirmed by Moscow.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined the diplomatic chorus on Sunday, discussing the conflict with leaders from the U.S., Italy, France, and Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron also weighed in, saying on X (formerly Twitter), “Tomorrow, President Putin must show he wants peace by accepting the 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by President Trump and backed by Ukraine and Europe.”
Despite international pressure, Putin remains wary of any ceasefire that doesn’t address his key demands. European leaders fear that Trump and Putin could potentially broker a deal that might end the war but leave Ukraine vulnerable — possibly stripped of a fifth of its territory without strong security guarantees.
For his part, Trump’s administration has hinted at further sanctions against Russia if peace talks are not taken seriously. His approach positions him as the key negotiator in a war many Western leaders believe is an aggressive land grab by Moscow. Putin, however, views the war as a crucial stand against Western encroachment into what he considers Russia’s rightful sphere of influence.
As the world watches, Monday’s call between Trump and Putin could mark the beginning of a new chapter — or signal yet another missed opportunity for peace.
