Background on Key Figures
Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has announced that Russia and Ukraine will commence immediate peace negotiations following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump, known for his business acumen and political influence, previously pledged during his campaign to swiftly resolve the conflict initiated in February 2022. However, four months into his presidency, he has yet to achieve this goal.
Vladimir Putin, the current President of Russia, has expressed willingness to collaborate with Ukraine on a “memorandum” regarding a potential future peace agreement. Yet, he has not agreed to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as Trump had sought.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Immediate Negotiations: Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine will start negotiating for an immediate ceasefire.
- Putin’s Stance: Putin described the conversation with Trump as “useful,” “very instructive,” and “frank.” He mentioned Russia’s readiness to work with Ukraine on a memorandum for a future peace agreement.
- Vatican’s Interest: Trump mentioned that the Vatican, under the newly elected Pope Leo XIV (the first American Pope), is “very interested” in hosting the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.
- Support from Leaders: Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European leaders welcomed the Pope’s offer for dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv.
Putin’s Perspective
Putin described the conversation with Trump as “useful,” “very instructive,” and “frank.” He stated that Russia is willing to propose and work with Ukraine on a memorandum for a potential future peace agreement.
Putin mentioned that certain positions still need to be clarified, including principles for resolution, timelines for concluding a peace agreement, and the possibility of a temporary ceasefire if corresponding agreements are reached.
Putin also noted that the discussions in Istanbul last week had put the world “on the right track” towards conflict resolution, but more commitments were needed.
Trump’s Actions and Reactions
Before the phone call, Trump reportedly informed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, European Commission President Úrsula von Der Leyen, and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and Finland about the resumption of peace talks.
Following Ukraine’s declaration that Russia launched a record-breaking drone attack against its territory on Sunday, the White House warned that Trump was “tired and frustrated” with the slow pace of negotiations.
Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s growing impatience, stating there was a “stalemate” unless Russia agreed to a ceasefire. Ukraine and its European allies accuse Putin of disregarding ceasefire requests and have pushed for new sanctions against Russia.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt indicated that new measures remain under consideration if Russia fails to reach an agreement.
Previous Attempts at Peace
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Turkey last week for the first time in about three years. The talks concluded without a ceasefire agreement and with Kyiv accusing Moscow of sending a delegation without decision-making power.
Russia and Ukraine agreed in Turkey to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Trump had previously considered joining the peace talks in Istanbul if there was an opportunity to meet Putin, though the Russian leader did not attend.
