Washington, D.C.: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia and Ukraine will soon begin ceasefire negotiations, following a recent two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump made the announcement through a post on his Truth Social platform, noting that the dialogue ended positively and that both sides are expected to initiate peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing war.
Trump also revealed that he had discussed the matter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as leaders from the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, and Finland. In addition, Trump mentioned that the Vatican has expressed willingness to host mediation talks, providing a neutral ground for negotiations.
Trump emphasized that Russia is keen on building strong trade ties with the United States once the war ends, and that Ukraine could also benefit from strengthened economic relations with Western nations. This statement comes after an earlier prisoner exchange agreement in Istanbul, where 1,000 prisoners of war were swapped by both nations. However, that effort did not lead to substantial peace progress.
Shortly after the Istanbul talks, a Russian drone strike targeted a passenger bus in Ukraine, reportedly killing nine civilians and injuring four others, highlighting the fragile situation. Although previous discussions had stalled, Trump’s diplomatic push, along with pressure from European leaders, appears to have influenced both Putin and Zelensky to consider direct negotiations.
However, complications arose again when Putin appointed aide Vladimir Medinsky to represent Russia in the upcoming talks. In response, Zelensky withdrew from direct participation, instead assigning Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to represent Ukraine. Despite setbacks, hopes remain that these developments may finally pave the way toward ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
