Trump to Discuss Ceasefire with Putin and Zelensky on Monday

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he will engage in discussions with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday regarding efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. This announcement comes just days after the first direct negotiations between the two conflicting nations since early 2022.

During his visit to the Middle East last week, Trump had proposed traveling to Istanbul for talks on Friday, contingent on Putin’s attendance; however, the Russian president ultimately chose not to accept the invitation.

In a message on Truth Social shared on Saturday, Trump stated that his conversation with Putin is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

«The FOCUS OF THE CALL WILL BE TO END THE ‘BLOODBATH’ THAT IS CLAIMING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5,000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS EACH WEEK, ALONG WITH TRADE,» he expressed.

He also mentioned his intention to speak with Zelensky and «various NATO representatives» afterward.

«I HOPE IT WILL BE A CONSTRUCTIVE DAY, THAT A CEASEFIRE WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND THIS HORRIFIC CONFLICT, WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED, WILL COME TO A CLOSE,» he noted.

During the Istanbul peace discussions last Friday, Russian negotiators insisted that Ukraine withdraw its forces from all territories claimed by Moscow before they would consent to a ceasefire, as informed by a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the proceedings, according to Reuters.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, as reported by Russian news outlets, confirmed on Saturday that preparations for a conversation between the presidents of Russia and the U.S. were in progress.

«A discussion is being arranged,» Peskov stated to the media following Trump’s announcement on Truth Social.